Court Approves Settlement of G20 Class Actions

Two class actions against the Toronto Police have settled. The actions arose out of the arrest and detention of hundreds of protesters during the G20 summit that was held in Toronto in June 2010.

In Good v. Toronto Police Services Board, 2020 ONSC 6332, Justice Belobaba approved the settlement, which requires payment of up to $16.5 million, with each class member receiving between $5,000 and $24,700.

As part of the settlement, the Toronto Police acknowledged that “many hundreds of members of the public were detained or arrested when they should not have been and were held in detention in conditions that were unacceptable” and that they “regret that mistakes were made”.

Further, the Toronto Police committed to implement reforms in the policing of future public protests and to ensure that class members’ arrest records are expunged.

To approve a settlement, the court must be satisfied that the proposed settlement is fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of the class. The settlement need not be perfect or ideal. The settlement will be approved if it falls within a zone of reasonableness.

Justice Belobaba held that the monetary and non-monetary features of the settlement were fair and reasonable and very much in the best interests of the class.