A family in Southern California is suing The Bay Club, an upscale fitness and hospitality center, after their 23-month-old son sustained a traumatic brain injury when a daycare worker allegedly threw him into the air and failed to catch him. The incident occurred on March 17, 2025, at The Bay Club’s El Segundo Clubhouse in El Segundo, California.
The lawsuit, filed by Matthew and Elena Kittle, alleges that a female employee lifted their son, identified by the initials C.K., by his hands, swung him between her legs, and then hurled him into the air approximately six feet above the ground. The employee failed to catch the child, who fell to the ground, struck his head on the hardwood floor, and began crying hysterically. The employee then fell backward, landing on top of the toddler.
The family claims that The Bay Club downplayed the severity of the incident and misrepresented the circumstances of the injury to the parents. According to the lawsuit, the daycare called the child’s father to inform him that his son had fallen but had since calmed down, concealing the true extent of the injury. The child reportedly suffered a concussion and continues to experience side effects.
The lawsuit alleges negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, battery, fraud, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The Bay Club has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation but stated in a statement that the safety of members, team members, and families is its highest priority.
Security camera footage reviewed by multiple outlets shows the incident, with the employee lifting the child and failing to catch him as he fell. The family’s attorney, Ryan Saba of Rosen Saba, LLP, described the incident as horrific and accused the daycare of deception in hiding the severity of the injury from the parents.
The Bay Club operates multiple locations across California, Oregon, and Washington, including the El Segundo Clubhouse, which houses a 14,000-square-foot childcare center.