Ron Joyce, the billionaire co-founder of Tim Hortons, is facing a sexual assault lawsuit of $7.5 billion from a woman 50 years his junior. Joyce gave $5 million to Mount Allison University in 2008 to establish the Ron Joyce Centre for Business Studies.
Joyce’s lawyers said that the case should be thrown out without going to trial because the lawsuit was filed too late.
The plaintiff alleges that on May 19, 2011, Joyce assaulted her in his Burlington, Ont. house. She filed for a lawsuit on May 31, 2013, just 12 days after the statute of limitations expired.
Both she and Joyce said they had a sexual relationship before that day, and maintained a platonic relationship thereafter.
According to the Canadian Press, “In an Ontario Superior Court hearing, lawyers for Ron Joyce painted the plaintiff as someone trying to extort an honourable businessman with her $7.5-million suit.”
His lawyers also claim that the suit was settled amicably with a $50,000 cheque, which the plaintiff admits to having cashed. However, the plaintiff claimed that the cheque was not a settlement, but rather “an advance on the lawsuit.”
Joyce also holds a honorary degree from Mt. A. When contacted by the Argosy, the university communications office did not comment on the lawsuit.
