Quebec Court of Appeal authorizes plaintiff to pursue civil action against Robert Miller

A woman who once accepted money from Robert Miller's lawyers can still sue the billionaire after an Appeal Court judgement.

The Quebec Court of Appeal overturned a March 2024 Superior Court ruling dismissing an $8-million sexual assault civil lawsuit against billionaire Robert Miller.

The plaintiff claimed that as of age 17, and for several years, she had been the victim of a network of sexual exploitation of underage girls set up and operated by Miller and his associates.

She was allegedly led to offer sexual services to Miller in exchange for luxury gifts, remuneration and travel.

The Superior Court ruled that she could not pursue the lawsuit because she had accepted $50,000 during a meeting with Miller’s lawyer. The plaintiff claimed the money was given to her as a gift, which the judge had rejected.

By overturning the ruling, the Court of Appeal has given the plaintiff the right to sue Miller.

The Court of Appeal said in its ruling that the plaintiff met with the billionaire’s lawyer in Montreal after Radio-Canada broadcast an investigation revealing the details of Miller’s case in 2023.

He has been accused of sexually exploiting underage girls or girls who have recently come of age.

According to the plaintiff, Miller offered her $50,000 to drop her civil lawsuit. His lawyer suggested that she consult a lawyer before making her decision, and she was advised not to sign any documents.

The plaintiff received an envelope containing $50,000 and left the lawyer’s office without signing a receipt.

According to the Court of Appeal, the fact that the claimant did not sign any documents entitles her to pursue legal action against the 81-year-old head of Future Electronics.

“Ultimately, the fact that the appellant chose to keep this sum rather than return it does not prove that a transaction took place ... nor does it mean that she waived her civil action against the respondents. It therefore does not render her action inadmissible against them,” the court said in its ruling.

A criminal case against Miller came to a halt last month after a Quebec Superior Court judge stayed charges against him, saying his Parkinson’s disease is too advanced for him to stand trial.

He faced 24 sex-related charges involving 11 women. Many of the complainants were minors when the alleged offences occurred.

Back in January, a Quebec Superior Court judge authorized a separate class-action lawsuit against Miller over allegations he paid minors for sex. In November 2024, a lawyer said 51 women had already come forward to participate in the suit.