Binding ctools modal handlers dynamically without page reload from http://www.nextide.ca/node/672

ctools modal handlers

$('area.ctools-use-modal, a.ctools-use-modal').each( function() {
        var $this = $(this);
        $this.unbind(); // Note the unbind: Otherwise there are multiple bind events which causes issues
        $this.click(Drupal.CTools.Modal.clickAjaxLink);
        // Create a drupal ajax object
        var element_settings = {};
        if ($this.attr('href')) {
          element_settings.url = $this.attr('href');
          element_settings.event = 'click';
          element_settings.progress = {
            type: 'throbber'
          };
        }
        var base = $this.attr('href');
        Drupal.ajax[base] = new Drupal.ajax(base, this, element_settings);
      });