Looks like lawsuits against the G20 police are beginning to take form; yet another post-G20 action in an attempt to hold the police accountable for their actions. If more lawsuits come to light, this could become an almost tit-for-tat battle with activists using the court system just like the government and police.
Another class action lawsuit — this time for $115 million dollars — has been launched on behalf of activists who were arrested and detained and business owners who had their property vandalized during the G20 Summit in Toronto.
Lawyer David Midanik filed a brief yesterday to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice wanting the court to codify and declare that the constitutional and civil rights of 1,150 people were violated by members of the Integrated Security Unit (ISU) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
“The policies, procedures, directives and orders of the defendants during the G20 authorized … abuse of power, abuse of process, false arrest, false imprisonment, infliction of mental suffering, invasion of privacy and abuse of public office,” the suit states. The case has not been certified and none of the claims have been proven in court.
The $115 million dollar class action lawsuit was filed by two activists against the Toronto and Peel Police Service and the Attorney General of Canada — who represent the RCMP — and encompasses people arrested on Saturday June 26 and Sunday June 27, 2010.
An earlier $45 million dollar class action lawsuit against the Toronto Police Services Board and the Attorney-General of Canada was launched on Thursday August 5, 2010.
A Montreal civil rights lawyer is threatening to file a similar class action lawsuit against the Montréal Police Service for participating in the G20 policing as part of the ISU.
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In other G20 arrest news, a Montreal man was arrested yesterday on G20 charges. Juan Lepore (28) was arrested by the Service de Police de la Ville de Montreal and will be transported to Toronto. He has been charges with mischief over $5,000 for his alleged role in the Toronto G20 protests.
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