Sammy Yatim's family files lawsuit against Toronto police

The family of Sammy Yatim, the 18-year-oldgunned down during a confrontation with Toronto police nearly a year ago, has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the Toronto Police Services board, Chief Bill Blair and three officers.

CBC News confirmed that a claim has been filed, although Julian Falconer, the lawyer forYatimsmother,SaharBahadi, and his sister, SarahYatim, wouldn't comment on the lawsuit,citing the pending second-degree murder trial ofone of the officers.

• Related: Officer to stand trial in Sammy Yatim death
• Related: Sammy Yatim killing: Const. James Forcillo back at work with TPS

According tothe Toronto Star,Bahadiand SarahYatim, are claiming more than $8 million in damages, and say they suffer from mental illnesses such as depression andanxiety as a result of the teens death.

The lawsuit was filed in February, the newspaper reports.

Yatimdied in the early morning of July 27, 2013,after he was shot at nine times during an interaction with police.

Witnesses have said thatYatimwas holding a knife while standing in an empty streetcar onDundasStreet West near TrinityBellwoodsPark.

The fatal shooting, which was caught on cellphone video, sparked street demonstrations and prompted calls for Toronto police tore-examine its use-of-force policies.

In August, the provinces Special Investigations Unit charged Const. James Forcillo with second-degree murder.

One of the three officers who aredefendantsin the lawsuit,he is scheduled to stand trial in 2015.

Forcillo, who is free on $510,000 bail, was suspended with pay, but quietly returned to active duty at Toronto Crime Stoppers in an administrative role in February.