A California medical provider used patient records to dispatch political campaign text messages during a congressional race, according to a class action lawsuit filed by a former patient. Dr. Sonia Devgan-Kacker, owner of Westlake Village Urgent Care, faced legal action from plaintiff Sean Rose following outreach sent in May 2026 during her run for the state’s 26th district congressional seat.
Medical Records and Campaign Outreach Allegations
The lawsuit centers on text messages received by patients of Westlake Village Urgent Care during the primary election cycle. According to court documents obtained by the CA Post, the May 2026 message opened with a paid political advertisement featuring a photograph of Devgan-Kacker alongside her professional credentials. The transmission included a link to her campaign website and a reminder to vote on June 2, while utilizing a phone number dedicated to the political campaign rather than the medical facility.
“It’s unclear why a message about the clinic’s hours would need to come from a congressional campaign and not directly to clinic patients from the clinic itself,” the legal papers state.
Clinic Responses and Privacy Act Claims
Court filings detail an email exchange between Rose and Westlake Village Urgent Care regarding the origin of the text blasts. According to the lawsuit, an initial email from the clinic stated that the recipient’s phone number was obtained because he had been a patient at the urgent care facility a few years prior, adding that the message was sent to all previous patients via a third-party service.
Later the same day, the clinic attempted to revise its explanation, asserting via email that the outreach was geographically targeted to the local community rather than based on patient status, as noted in the court papers. Rose disputed that rationale in the lawsuit, pointing out that he lived within the 26th district when he visited the clinic but has since relocated to the 29th district. The complaint argues that public voter data would have correctly placed him in the 29th district if the campaign had relied on voter rolls instead of private medical databases.
Did you know? The California Confidentiality of Medical Records Act prohibits health care providers from disclosing medical information relating to their patients without a patient’s authorization.
The class action complaint alleges violations of the California Confidentiality of Medical Records Act, which restricts the unauthorized disclosure of patient information by healthcare providers. Rose is seeking both statutory and punitive damages, alongside a formal judicial determination that the medical facility breached state medical privacy statutes.
Aftermath of the Primary Election
Devgan-Kacker launched her congressional bid in January following the announcement by Congresswoman Julia Brownley that she would not seek re-election in the 26th district. On her campaign website, Devgan-Kacker stated, “I’m not a career politician—I solve problems for a living. And I’m running to bring practical leadership, accountability, and real-world experience to Congress.”
The campaign ultimately did not advance past the primary election held in June. The CA Post reached out to Devgan-Kacker for comment regarding the pending litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the lawsuit allege against Dr. Sonia Devgan-Kacker?
The lawsuit alleges that Devgan-Kacker used patient phone numbers gathered from Westlake Village Urgent Care patient records to send political campaign texts during her 2026 congressional run.
Which law was allegedly violated by the clinic?
The plaintiff claims the facility violated the California Confidentiality of Medical Records Act, which prohibits healthcare providers from sharing patient information without authorization.
What remedy is the plaintiff seeking?
Sean Rose is seeking statutory damages, punitive damages, and a judgment declaring that the clinic violated state medical records laws.
Did the congressional campaign succeed?
No, Devgan-Kacker’s campaign did not advance past the June primary election.
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