A Quebec Superior Courtroom choose has approved a category motion in opposition to billionaire Robert Miller, the corporate he based, Future Electronics, and purported accomplices, for allegedly paying minors for intercourse.
The lawsuit was introduced ahead by three ladies who, in accordance with the choice, “declare to have been victims of a juvenile prostitution system organized for the sexual profit” of Miller.
“These extraordinarily severe acts allegedly occurred over a number of years, once they had been between the ages of 11 and 17,” in accordance with the choice issued Tuesday by Decide Catherine Piché.
The choose mentioned that the case includes about 100 minors between 1994 and 2006 whom the plaintiffs say had been recruited “at all times with the help of a number of Future staff who allegedly participated within the community.”
“The court docket mustn’t, at this stage, take into account the deserves of the dispute and it ought to take the details as confirmed, until they seem unbelievable or manifestly inaccurate,” Piché wrote.
In November, earlier than the choose took the case underneath advisement, lawyer Jeff Orenstein, who represents the plaintiffs, informed the court docket that 51 alleged victims had come ahead to his agency.
The 81-year-old businessman, who allegedly paid dozens of underage ladies over a 20-year interval for intercourse, might face greater than $150 million in requested damages.
One of many three plaintiffs mentioned she was solely 11 when she first had intercourse with the accused. The opposite two mentioned they had been 16 and 17.
Miller, who has superior Parkinson’s illness, has not but appeared in court docket attributable to his poor well being. His legal professionals requested that he be questioned in writing — a course of that has already began and was exceptionally approved because of the state of his well being.
Along with the category motion, Miller faces a complete of 24 prices filed by Quebec’s director of legal and penal prosecutions.
He’s additionally the topic of civil lawsuits in reference to 4 particular person complaints. In November, a choose ordered the seizure of two of Miller’s residences on the request of 4 ladies who filed civil fits alleging he abused them as minors.
Radio-Canada spoke with one of many plaintiffs whose identification is protected because of the approved class motion.
“This information actually warms my coronary heart. It’s excessive time that justice be served and that Miller and his accomplices be punished for the hurt and abuse they inflicted on us,” she mentioned.
The alleged accomplices are Sam Joseph Abrams, Raymond Poulet and Helmut Lippmann.
Orenstein mentioned he welcomes Piché’s resolution.
“It’s a well-thought-out judgment,” he mentioned. “I’ve despatched it to our shoppers and everybody may be very inspired by this resolution. Now we are able to transfer forward to the deserves and hopefully get our shoppers some justice.”
Miller’s legal professionals didn’t reply by publication time to Radio-Canada’s request for remark.
The accused has repeatedly denied the allegations of sexual abuse and opposed the category motion lawsuit.
At a listening to earlier than the Quebec Superior Courtroom in November, his lawyer Karim Renno argued that his consumer has the suitable to know the names of his accusers.
He argued that Miller cannot current an entire defence if he doesn’t know who’s accusing him.
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