OTTAWA - The Ottawa Police Service is launching a defence against a lawsuit from Stacy Bonds.

The Ottawa woman has filed a $1.2 million lawsuit over her September 2008 arrest and treatment in the Ottawa police cellblock.

Cellblock video released late last year sparked controversy, and prompted the Ottawa Police Service to review procedures in the cellblock at the Elgin Street headquarters.

Legal counsel has filed a notice of intent to defend the Ottawa Police Service against the lawsuit.

Bonds' statement of claim names Chief Vernon White, the Ottawa Police Services Board, three officers and two special constables.

Statements of claim contain allegations that have not been proven in court.

Bonds alleges some or all of the defendants infringed her Charter rights and led to her being negligently and maliciously prosecuted.

After seeing the cellblock video, Justice Richard Lajoie stayed charges of public intoxication and assault against Bonds and criticized police conduct.