A 23‑month‑old toddler sustained a brain injury after a daycare worker at a fitness and hospitality centre in El Segundo, California allegedly dropped him onto the floor.
CCTV footage shows the child approaching a staff member, who lifts him into the air before letting go. The child falls to the floor and the worker lands on top of him. The toddler is seen crying as another staff member approaches the scene.
The family claims the child suffered a severe brain injury and that the centre misrepresented the circumstances and extent of the injuries.
The father dropped the child at the centre on March 17 2025, expecting to return two hours later. A call from the centre described the fall as normal, but a second call later said the child could not settle and needed to be picked up.
Medical assessment found the toddler’s eye was swollen shut, with bruising on the right side of his face and swelling around his mouth. He was also drowsy and irritable, and a doctor diagnosed him with concussion, blunt head trauma and facial abrasion.
In a lawsuit, the parents seek undisclosed damages and accuse the staff of deception. Their attorney emphasized the importance of transparency and urgent notification when a child is injured.
The centre has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
