G8/G20 Communique: Info session for taking post G8/G20 legal action

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Public Info Session: Your options for Taking Post G8/G20 legal action -- Sunday, August 8, 2010

Co-hosted by the Summit Legal Support Project of the Movement Defence Committee (MDC) and the Law Union of Ontario.

Join us on August 8th to learn about:

-- how to file a human rights claim
-- the police complaints process
-- how you can sue the police
-- the class action lawsuit(s) (that are currently in discussion)

Registration: Please register as soon as possible at http://tinyurl.com/g20legal [2]

Purpose of Info Session: To provide basic legal information about how each of these legal processes work, how to file claims, and who to contact for further information.

Agenda: TBD. Over the next two weeks the agenda will be posted on our website (movementdefence.org [3]) with a specific time provided for each type of legal process that we will cover. This will hopefully allow you to better plan your Sunday afternoon.

Date & Time: Sunday August 8th, 2010; 1:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Location: United Steelworkers Hall (wheel chair accessible), 25 Cecil Street (near the intersection of College and Spadina).

Contact: For more info on the Summit Legal Support Project or this event, email us at lawunionmdc@gmail.com [4] or check out movementdefence.org [3].

For more information on the broader Law Union of Ontario, please visit http://www.lawunion.ca/ [5].

Facebook invite: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=140351979317449 [6]

Note: Childcare and ASL interpretation will be provided. Please request other accommodation as needed through our registration system located here http://tinyurl.com/g20legal [2].

IN THE MEANTIME, here is a "to-do list" for anyone who may have grounds for a lawsuit or a complaint, or who witnessed a potential complaint, and who has not yet consulted with a lawyer about it:

1) Write down everything that you remember about what happened, and when and where it happened, while it is still fresh in your mind.

 --These notes should be made on your own, based on your own memory.
Have support of friends or the psycho-social support team (peertopeersupportforactivists@gmail.com [7]) nearby as this process could be triggering.

--Date the document and on the top of each page write "Confidential: for my lawyers eyes only". This may help to keep the information confidential between you and your lawyer.

--For most people, it's easiest to go chronologically. Be as precise as possible regarding dates, times, places, etc.

--Write down the names and contact information for any witnesses you know of.

--Write down any details you have about the police officer(s) involved: badge number (or the absence of any visible badge number), helmet number, name, police force, description of uniform, and any other
identifying information - and what the officer(s) did.

--Be sure to keep copies of any video/audio/photo evidence with dates, times and locations. Again, mark it as "for my lawyers eyes only" if it is footage that you don't want made public.

--If possible, include the impact the events had on you. If you are injured or traumatized, this is important to document, along with medical records, counselling appointments, time off from work, etc.

--Keep at least one hard copy only in a safe place to show only to your legal counsel. DO NOT send us details of your case, of your actions or other's actions, and DO NOT send your personal documentation to us.

2) Public Testimonials

-You might want to write or speak publicly about your experiences, but it is important if you do to be more general than when you're documenting the events for your lawyer (as described above) because anything you say in public can be used in court later. And lawyers for the other side will check to see if you've been consistent in all your descriptions.

 - Also remember that your statements can be used in regards to other people's legal claims, so keep that in mind when describing events where other people were involved as well.

3) If you were physically injured or traumatized by what happened to you, or feel unsure about the effects of any trauma you might have experienced:

--see a doctor right away if you haven't yet;

--take photographs or videos of any visible injuries; and

--write down a list and description of the physical and mental injuries you sustained.

4) Keep a record of all out-of-pocket costs, no matter how trivial
(e.g., taxi fare, TTC fare, or vehicle mileage for getting home from the detention centre, getting to or from court, or getting to or from a doctor's or lawyer's office; pain medication or wound dressings;
uninsured therapy costs, lawyers' fees, etc.).  Keep all receipts.

5) Write down a detailed list of all property that was lost or damaged (clothing, bicycles, backpacks, personal belongings, etc.).

6) Keep track of any employment or other income you have lost as a result of being detained or as a result of your physical or mental injuries arising from the incident.

7) If you would like to be contacted in the future concerning possible legal options, email your contact information to MDC by visiting http://movementdefence.org/contact [8].

8) Check back at the MDC website regularly for updated info at: http://movementdefence.org [3]

--
Movement Defence Committee of the Law Union of Ontario
http://movementdefence.org [3]
http://twitter.com/MDCLegalUpdates [9]
lawunionmdc@gmail.com [4]

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