Asset freeze sought in proposed suit alleging Quebec billionaire paid minors for sex

MONTREAL — A lawyer representing dozens of women who say a Montreal billionaire paid them for sex while they were minors wants to freeze millions of dollars of the businessman’s assets.

Jeff Orenstein, who is representing the women in a proposed class-action lawsuit, told a Quebec Superior Court judge he worries Robert Miller will hide the proceeds from the coming $5.2-billion sale of his company, Future Electronics.

Orenstein says he wants Miller and Future Electronics to deposit a total of $200 million with the court for safekeeping, and if that isn’t done for their assets — as well as the assets of a number of related companies and individuals — to be frozen.

Miller has denied the allegations, and his lawyer, Karim Renno, told the court there’s no evidence his client will try to hide his assets.