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
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) 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; 1:30pm – 5:30 pm
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 or check out
movementdefence.org. For more information on the broader Law Union of
Ontario, please visit https://www.lawunion.ca/.
Facebook invite: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=140351979317449
Note: Childcare and ASL interpretation will be provided. Please
request other accommodation as needed through our registration system
located here http://tinyurl.com/g20legal.
***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) 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) Check back at the MDC website regularly for updated info,