Seven people from Hamilton have launched a lawsuit against Toronto police accusing them of false arrest, battery and malicious prosecution during the G20 summit that took place in the city more than two years ago.

The women in the group are also alleging the officers made sexist comments towards them and grabbed them inappropriately.

The group is suing the police service for $1.4 million, which would work out to about $200,000 per person.

Davin Charney, the lawyer for the group, told reporters Wednesday that they decided to serve the notice of claim today, more than a month after it was originally filed.

The lawsuit was filed June 26 – two years to the day of when vandals tore down Toronto streets, smashing glass windows of retailers and banks, and lighting police cars on fire to protest the G20 summit’s agenda. The group from Hamilton was arrested the next day on June 27, 2010, as they walked out of a downtown pizza shop.

People who had wished to file a G20-related claim only had two years to do so.

Charney said he is currently involved in eight separate lawsuits that are G20 related, two of which have settled out of court. The other six are in various stages of development in the court system.

What was announced today involves complainants who were not protesting at the time they were arrested.

The plaintiffs say they were walking out of a Yonge Street restaurant when they were approached by police and taken to a nearby detention centre.

“The circumstances of the arrest are disturbing,” Charney said at a news conference held outside police headquarters on College Street Wednesday morning.

The lawsuit claims police officers made sexist comments about the women’s bodies, pointing out their unshaven legs and at one point calling them “dykes.”

“They were profiled as protesters by Toronto police using specific markers, black clothes and a backpack. One of the markers was hair on women’s legs,” Charney later told CP24.

One of the female complainants said a male officer grabbed her buttocks during the arrest.

Charney said another plaintiff was held in handcuffs for 20 hours and none of the prisoners received adequate access to food and water while they were held at a temporary detention centre on Eastern Avenue.

“The claim also makes a connection between orders given from the most senior officers to street level officers to carry out the order,” he said. “Senior officers were told to take back the streets. One of them called (protesters) “protest terrorists” and that created a culture of reckless disregard.”

Charney said bringing the case to court is not just about compensating alleged victims but also about holding police accountable for their alleged actions.

“We have not seen any police conduct go before a judge and ultimately, if this case goes in front of a judge, that’s what will happen.”

None of the claims has been proven in court.

@SandieBenitah is on Twitter. Remember, for instant breaking news, follow @CP24 on Twitter.