Quebec billionaire Robert Miller may be questioned in sex case before trial: judge

A Montreal billionaire facing a class-action lawsuit alleging he paid underage girls for sex may be asked in writing before the case is granted, a Quebec judge said.

Lawyer Jeff Orenstein, who is seeking permission for the class action, has asked the Quebec Supreme Court for permission to quickly question Robert Miller, arguing that the 80-year-old may die before the case goes to trial.

On Friday, Judge Christian Immer granted the request in part, saying he would allow Orenstein to ask written questions about specific topics related to the case and that Miller could respond in writing.

Immer said the oral exam was life-threatening for Miller because it could cause the businessman to suffer from Parkinson's disease and heart disease.

The judge denied Orenstein's request that the 90-year-old vice president of Future Electronics, which Miller founded, respond until the case is settled.

The proposed class action alleges that Miller, who has denied all allegations, paid money and gifts to dozens of minors for sex between 1996 and 2006.