Music
The Comfort Zone is suing Toronto police for $23 million
by Richard Howard
January 4, 2016
The infamous after-hours bar is tired of police harassment.
It’s a story as old as time: legal after-hours club is famous for its all night dance parties and infamous as a place for less savoury activities, after-hours club is raided by police who find $30,000 worth of drugs, after-hours club then sues the city and the police for harassment.
OK, you got me – that story’s only eight years old and probably unique to Toronto and The Comfort Zone. And yes – after suing the City of Toronto and Councillor Adam Vaughan for $11 million after a notorious 2008 raid (Project White Rabbit, launched after the overdose death of 26-year-old Adam Fazio, charging 33 patrons including five staff members, and seizing $30,000 of GHB, cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy) the club has now aimed a similar suit at Toronto Police Services and former chief Bill Blair to the tune of $23 million. It alleges “abuse of power,” harassment of patrons and staff, and a concerted attempt to have The Comfort Zone shut down. The cops have denied the claims which they dubbed “inflammatory,” and have requested an immediate dismissal of the suit.
Now, to be fair, the general consensus among those in the know is that The Comfort Zone has cracked down on drug use and sales on the premises and itself complies with the law (no alcohol sales, safety concerns, etc). However, for a long time, this Toronto institution has been known (accurately or not) for pretty much one thing, so that might make the suit a bit of an uphill battle.
[h/t Toronto Star]
