An Orillia woman who, a judge said, was left with “catastrophic” injuries following an altercation with OPP Sgt. Russell Watson in 2013, is suing Watson, the police force and the local police services board for close to $4 million.

Tonie Farrell, 48, “has sustained permanent and serious injuries including, but not limited to, a fractured leg, crushed knee, lost tooth, as well as bruising, spraining, straining and tearing of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves throughout her body including her neck and back,” alleges the statement of claim, filed in Newmarket Superior Court in January.

The OPP “knew or ought to have known that Sgt. Watson had a history of using excessive or unwarranted force but failed to take appropriate steps to address the issue,” the statement alleges. “It continued to employ Sgt. Watson when it knew or ought to have known that Sgt. Watson was a danger to the public.”

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

OPP spokesman Sgt. Peter Leon said Watson and the OPP would not be commenting. Orillia Police Services Board chair Pat Hehn said the board cannot comment as the incident is under investigation by the Special Investigations Unit, Ontario’s civilian watchdog agency that investigates incidents of police involvement in serious injury or death.

Farrell’s lawyer, Darcy Romaine, said he expects statements of defence will be filed by the end of April.

Farrell was initially charged with assaulting Watson by allegedly grabbing his lapel on April 2, 2013. Farrell said she was trying to help him find three people she saw assault another woman behind an Orillia convenience store, but was told by Watson to “shut the f--- up.”

Ontario Court Justice George Beatty threw out the charge against Farrell last December, writing that Farrell was simply a “Good Samaritan” trying to help the police officer.

Farrell testified that Watson karate-kicked her to the ground, then jumped on top of her and punched her on the left side of the face. She said she now walks with a cane and takes daily pain medication.

“(Watson) suffered no injuries and her injuries were catastrophic,” Beatty wrote in his decision.

Watson testified at trial that Farrell had been drinking, but “he was uncertain how much,” according to Beatty’s decision. He said he found Farrell distracting and “very animated” and took her to the ground to arrest her when she wouldn’t comply with his orders.

The SIU investigated Watson in 2013, but did not press charges. The agency reopened the case earlier this month following Beatty’s decision.

The statement of claim names as plaintiffs Farrell, her parents, four children and grandchild.

Farrell is demanding $4 million in general, aggravated and punitive damages, and $100,000 in Charter of Rights and Freedoms damages. Her family members are each asking for $100,000 in damages.

The statement alleges Watson “is liable for the tort of battery,” saying he “owed a duty to the plaintiff . . . not to make harmful or offense (sic) physical contact with her in the absence of legal justification or authority.”

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It also alleges that he wrongfully arrested Farrell, that he was “negligent in failing to carry out a reasonable investigation,” and was “actively involved” in the “malicious prosecution” of Farrell.

The statement of claim goes on to allege that Watson “caused and continued prosecution against the plaintiff in order to conceal or obfuscate his misconduct; he deliberately misstated the events in his notes in hopes of securing a conviction; he counseled fellow officers to misstate evidence to the court in order to secure a conviction.”