Abdirahman Abdi's family suing police for more than $1.5M

The family of Abdirahman Abdi is suing the Ottawa Police Services Board, Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau, and constables Daniel Montsion and David Weir for more than $1.5 million.

Abdi, a 37-year-old man with unspecifiedmental health issues,lost vital signs during a violent altercation with police outside the entrance of his apartment building at 55 Hilda St. in Ottawa's Hintonburg neighbourhood on July 24, 2016.

He was officially pronounced dead in hospital the following day.

The family's lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, filed the statement of claim in court last Tuesday, arguingthe defendants caused "negligent infliction of mental suffering" to Abdi'sfivefamily members, according to the document.

Abdirahman Abdi's family suing police for more than $1.5M

6 years ago

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The family's lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, filed the statement of claim in court last Tuesday.

"The real reasons for the lawsuit, for the civil action, are firstly the family's need to have recognition of the factthat what happened was wrong, and secondly they're very hopeful that as a result of the civil action, there will be real change made to the system that allowed this tragedy to happen," Greenspon said.

The claim allegesthe two constables usedexcessive force while trying toapprehend Abdi for allegedly groping people inside a Hintonburg coffee shop.

Theclaimalleges Bordeleaufailedto ensure the two officers were "properly trained," and that the police services board failedto take actionto address "systemic problems at a policy level."

"We think there are systemic problems which enabled this to happen, and they are very much a part of the civil action that's been brought," said Greenspon.

'This happened right in front of where the family lives'

He toldCBC's Ottawa Morningthat racism is not among the"systemic problems" in the claim, andthat theallegations are of various kinds of negligence.

The lawsuit also says that Abdi'sfamily has suffered psychological damage because hedied so closeto them.

"This happened right in front of where the family lives," said Greenspon."On the ground floor in front of the apartment building, and members of the family were close at hand."

Weir was the first officer who arrived in Hintonburg theday of the incident, andMontsionarrived a short time later.

Ontario's Special Investigations Unit looked into the incident and did not lay charges against Weir.Montsionwas charged withmanslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon, andhis trial is scheduled to start in February.

Tuesday marked the two-yearanniversaryof the altercation between Abdiand police.

The Justice for AbdirahmanCoalition is hosting agatheringoutside of Abdi'sformer apartment on Tuesday night.

The City of Ottawa'sdeputy city solicitor, David White, declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday, citing ongoing legal proceedings.