A man is seeking $1 million in damages from the Edmonton Police Service, claiming he was kicked and punched by four police officers during an arrest.

Kazimierz Kozina of Edmonton, who was 29 at the time, has filed a statement of claim in Court of Queen's Bench alleging "unlawful assault" on Feb. 11, 2010.

In the court documents, Kozina says he was dragged out of a car and taken to the ground by the four officers, hitting his head on the sidewalk.

The "assault" continued while Kozina was on the ground, with three officers

"kicking and striking him repeatedly with closed fists and jumping on his back," the lawsuit alleges. Physical injuries included a fractured orbital bone, cuts and bruises, as well as a spinal injury, the documents say.

But Kozina says when he was complaining to the officers about what happened, he was threatened by one of them who told him: " 'You better not pursue this.' "

When he was taken to the police station later, he says another officer told him: " 'You think this was bad? Next time will be worse.' "

The documents say when Kozina asked for medical help, his request was dismissed.

The lawsuit accuses Const. Jack Redlick, Const. Phil Leeman, Const. Jason Kemp and Const. Craig Offin of using excessive force. Kozina is also alleging the officers prepared false notes and reports to justify the "assault."

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Police witness called a 'rat'

Kozina was charged and on Oct. 25, 2011, he pleaded guilty to two charges, including obstruction of a police officer.

But the statement of claim says he made admissions which were not true about striking a police officer, as part of a plea bargain to avoid what he understood would be a "significant risk of going to jail."

The lawsuit refers to another police officer, Const. Derek Huff, who witnessed the altercation but was branded a "rat" for reporting the matter to a senior officer.

Kozina's lawsuit alleges Huff noticed other police members would not speak to him or make eye contact and that "the harassment resulted in Huff suffering mental distress, including stress, anxiety and depression."

Huff's mental condition continued to deteriorate and he decided to resign on Feb. 8, 2013.

CBC's Go Public first reported on the case in September 2013 when Huff came forward to speak publicly about what happened.

Huff sued the police service for $500,000 but dropped the case last November. At that time, his lawyers declined to comment on why that lawsuit was withdrawn.

Kozina launched an appeal of his guilty convictions to the Court of Appeal on June 3, 2015. An affidavit from Huff was a part of his appeal. In July the appeal court struck down Kozina's guilty pleas and his charges were stayed.

Kozina's lawsuit says he is asking for $1 million in damages in part for physical and psychological injuries, as well as "permanent, disabling injuries which affected his ability to work at his chosen job of being a foreman on a paving crew."

His statement of claim says he now feels "terror when he sees a police officer" and has "suffered damage to his reputation" as well as "mental anguish, humiliation and injury to dignity."

An attempt by CBC to contact Kozina through his lawyer was unsuccessful.

Statements of defence have not yet been filed