G20 class-action lawsuits against Toronto police over 'kettling' get go-ahead
First class actions involving group arrests to be certified in Ontario
More than 1,000 people arrested in large groups and held in "inhumane conditions" at a makeshift detention centre during the 2010 G20 summit in Toronto won the right to proceed with two class-action lawsuits against police authorities Wednesday.
The Ontario Court of Appeal approved the two class actions over "kettling" — confining scores of people at downtown Toronto intersections for several hours — and alleged civil rights abuses that occurred nearly six years ago during the three-day global summit.
"There have been non-binding recommendations before but now we have binding legal process, which can actually make changes happen," counsel Kent Elson told CBC News.
The lawsuits allege people were mass-arrested indiscriminately and held in "inhumane conditions" at a detention centre located inside an unused film studio on Eastern Avenue.
"What happened to them was terrible. They were arrested without cause," Elson said. "That shouldn't happen in a democratic country like ours."
These are the first class actions involving group arrests to be certified in the province.
G20 class-action lawsuits against Toronto police over 'kettling' get go-ahead - Toronto - CBC News
I'd like a kettle of Canadians, please, and a side of poutine.
First class actions involving group arrests to be certified in Ontario
More than 1,000 people arrested in large groups and held in "inhumane conditions" at a makeshift detention centre during the 2010 G20 summit in Toronto won the right to proceed with two class-action lawsuits against police authorities Wednesday.
The Ontario Court of Appeal approved the two class actions over "kettling" — confining scores of people at downtown Toronto intersections for several hours — and alleged civil rights abuses that occurred nearly six years ago during the three-day global summit.
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"There have been non-binding recommendations before but now we have binding legal process, which can actually make changes happen," counsel Kent Elson told CBC News.
The lawsuits allege people were mass-arrested indiscriminately and held in "inhumane conditions" at a detention centre located inside an unused film studio on Eastern Avenue.
"What happened to them was terrible. They were arrested without cause," Elson said. "That shouldn't happen in a democratic country like ours."
These are the first class actions involving group arrests to be certified in the province.
G20 class-action lawsuits against Toronto police over 'kettling' get go-ahead - Toronto - CBC News
I'd like a kettle of Canadians, please, and a side of poutine.
