A California family who says a Target potty trainer nearly ripped off their 3-year-old son’s penis is taking legal action against the company.
The boy’s parents and grandparents filed a lawsuit Dec. 5 after his penis allegedly became stuck in the potty trainer, according to The Press-Enterprise, which did not identify the family to protect their privacy.
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, claims that the Target and Prince Lionheart, maker of the weePOD Basix potty trainer, were negligent when they did not recall the product or warn customers about its dangers.
According to the suit, the tot was using a squishy potty trainer, which retails for $14.99, when his member was nearly severed all the way around.
He was rushed to a hospital where doctors were forced to glue his mutilated penis back on since the area is too sensitive for stitches, The Press-Enterprise reported.
“People go to Target assuming the products they sell aren’t going to mutilate a toddler’s genitals,” attorney Kristensen said. “This kid’s scarred for life.”
Target said that the company was investigating the family’s claims.
“We take product safety incredibly seriously, are committed to providing safe products to our guests and require our vendors to follow all product safety laws and CPSC guidelines for the products they sell at Target,” spokesperson Jenna Reck said in a statement to The Press-Enterprise.