Wisconsin parents Taylor and Tyler Bethard have taken their fight to Hennepin County, suing Target after their 10-month-old daughter, Esther Jo, died in July 2023 following the ingestion of a water bead. Their wrongful-death complaint centers on beads sold in a Chuckle & Roar activity kit, alleging the tiny pellets can expand inside a child’s body and trigger fatal intestinal blockages. The lawsuit seeks damages for negligence, wrongful death and emotional distress as the case now moves forward in Minnesota court.
Parents say Target ignored warnings
The Bethards’ lawsuit accuses Target of failing to adequately warn families about the dangers of the water bead kit, even after other parents reported serious medical emergencies involving the same product. Attorney Daniel Mann told reporters that “Esther Jo would still be alive if Target had acted,” according to CBS Minnesota.
Recall, injuries and a federal standard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Buffalo Games recalled roughly 52,000 Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads activity kits in September 2023, after the manufacturer reported one infant death and another child’s serious injury, per the CPSC recall notice. CPSC data also estimate that about 6,300 water bead ingestion injuries were treated in U.S. emergency departments between 2017 and 2022, and the agency has since moved to tighten safety rules for water bead products, aiming to limit how much the beads can expand and to require stronger warnings, according to CPSC reporting.
Earlier reports to Target, suit alleges
The complaint says Target had notice of serious problems well before the recall. According to the lawsuit, one incident in Las Vegas involved a bead blocking a child’s lung and requiring surgery, while another case in New Hampshire saw a child develop sepsis and undergo multiple bowel surgeries. The suit claims Target quietly pulled the kit from its shelves in November 2022 but did not alert customers who had already purchased it, as detailed by the Star Tribune.
Where the case stands now
The Bethards first tried to sue Target and the product maker in Erie County, New York, in 2025, but that complaint against Target was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. The family has now refiled in Hennepin County, shifting the legal fight to Minnesota this week. A Target spokesperson said the company “extends our deepest sympathies to those affected by this tragedy” and stated that Target worked with the manufacturer when the product was removed from stores, according to CBS Minnesota.
Legal implications
The lawsuit names several Target corporate entities and pursues damages under theories including negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Under Minnesota law, a retailer can be on the hook if there is proof it had actual knowledge of a dangerous defect. Legal observers say the case will likely hinge on what Target knew, when it knew it and how it responded. For a fuller timeline of events and the family’s detailed claims, see reporting by the Star Tribune.
Policy fallout and advocacy
Beyond the courtroom, Esther Jo’s death has helped fuel a broader push to rein in water bead products. Her mother has advocated for federal legislation dubbed “Esther’s Law” and has worked with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin on proposals to ban or more tightly regulate the beads. The family says this lawsuit is part of a larger effort to force tougher industry practices and stronger regulatory action, following recalls and new CPSC limits announced in the years since the kit was sold.
