A class action lawsuit was filed Thursday, Sept. 2 on behalf of two Toronto residents arrested, detained and incarcerated at the Eastern Avenue Detention Centre during the G20 Summit in June.
The suit was submitted to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for plaintiffs Miranda McQuade (who was charged with two criminal offenses - unlawful assembly and obstruction of the police) and Mike Barber. David Midanik and Charles Wagman are serving as their solicitor.The class action lawsuit, the second pertaining to the G20 Summit, is seeking $115 million in damages.The Toronto Police Services Board, the Attorney General of Canada and Regional Municipality of Peel Police Services Board are named in the suit.It represents about 1,150 people detained or arrested on June 26 or 27 including those charged with criminal offenses on those dates; those at or near Queen's Park and/or the Hotel Novotel on the Esplanade; those inside, near or outside the Eastern Avenue Detention Centre from June 25 to 30 inclusively; those at or near the intersection of Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue; those at or near queen Street West and Noble Street; and those otherwise detained or arrested in relation to the G20 Summit in downtown Toronto and at other unspecified locations.The class action also represents business owners on Yonge, Queen and College streets as well as Spadina Avenue and other locations in downtown Toronto whose properties were vandalized in relation to the G20 Summit.Among other things, the lawsuit alleges the defendants put in place policies, procedures, directives and orders that led to abuse of power, abuse of process, false arrest, false imprisonment, infliction or mental suffering, invasion of privacy and abuse of public office. It also claims the defendants were negligent in executing policies, procedures, directives and orders relating to the G20 Summit.Further, it points the finger at individual police officers for reportedly violating the Police Services Act and the common law by intentionally causing assault, battery, abuse of power, abuse of process, false arrest, false imprisonment, infliction of mental suffering, invasion of privacy, trespass, abuse of public office, harassment and intimidation and negligence in the execution of their duties.