A California family has filed a lawsuit against a daycare facility after surveillance video allegedly captured a childcare worker throwing their 23-month-old son into the air before failing to catch him, leaving the toddler with devastating injuries that his parents say could affect him for years to come.
The lawsuit, filed by parents Matt and Elena Kittle, alleges the incident occurred at The Bay Club Clubhouse in El Segundo, where the couple had entrusted staff with caring for their young son while they used nearby club facilities.
According to court filings, what initially appeared to be an ordinary day at daycare quickly turned into every parent’s nightmare.
According to the complaint, surveillance footage shows the toddler approaching a daycare employee before the worker began playfully swinging him.
Moments later, the employee allegedly lifted and tossed the child several feet into the air. Instead of catching him safely, the worker reportedly lost control, causing the toddler to crash head-first onto the floor.
The footage reportedly shows the employee stumbling backward after dropping the child and nearly falling on top of him as he lay injured on the ground. The incident has since sparked outrage online after details of the lawsuit became public.
According to the lawsuit, the child’s father received a phone call from daycare staff informing him that his son had suffered what was described as a minor fall but had calmed down afterward. Roughly 15 minutes later, staff contacted him again and requested that he pick up the child.
When the father arrived, he allegedly found his son with severe bruising across the right side of his face, a swollen eye, and injuries around his mouth.
After returning home, the toddler reportedly became increasingly lethargic and irritable, prompting his parents to rush him to the hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Doctors allegedly diagnosed the boy with a traumatic brain injury following the incident. His parents also claim he has suffered hearing loss and continues to experience lingering symptoms months after the accident.
The lawsuit claims daycare employees initially told the family their son had fallen only about a foot and a half. However, after obtaining surveillance footage, the parents say the video revealed a far more serious incident.
According to the complaint, the footage allegedly shows the child being launched approximately six feet into the air before striking the floor head-first.
The parents argue the daycare misrepresented what happened and failed to accurately disclose the severity of the incident, leading to allegations of negligence, fraud, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In addition to the injury allegations, the lawsuit claims the childcare operation was not properly licensed through the California Department of Social Services at the time of the incident.
The lawsuit seeks damages to be determined by a jury for the child’s medical expenses, long-term care, pain and suffering, and other losses allegedly resulting from the incident.
As of Tuesday, representatives for The Bay Club had not publicly responded in detail to the allegations contained in the lawsuit. Because the case remains ongoing, the claims made by the family have not yet been proven in court.
The disturbing surveillance footage has generated widespread attention on social media, with many parents expressing concern over safety standards inside childcare facilities.
Whether additional legal action or regulatory investigations follow remains to be seen, but the lawsuit has already intensified conversations about daycare accountability, employee training, and transparency when children are injured while under professional supervision.
Authorities have not announced any criminal charges related to the incident, and the civil lawsuit is expected to move through the California court system in the coming months.
According to the family’s lawsuit, the 23-month-old boy allegedly suffered multiple serious injuries, including:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Hearing loss
Severe bruising to the right side of his face
A swollen eye
Injuries around his mouth and face
Lethargy and irritability following the fall, which prompted emergency medical treatment
Warning Distressing Content Below
‘A toddler in California was left with a traumatic brain injury after a country club daycare worker tossed him above her head and landed on top of him after he fell to the ground…’
– Daily Mail
pic.twitter.com/L86CHHP9q8— The Daily Sneed™ (@Tr00peRR) July 7, 2026
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