Magna International Inc. Chairman Frank Stronach speaks at the company's annual general meeting in Markham, Ont. on Wednesday May 4, 2011. Stronach, the tool and die maker who went on to build a multibillion dollar international auto parts empire, stepped down as chairman after the meeting . An Ontario Superior Court is hearing a motion today about whether The Stronach Group should be ordered to disclose any documents that might exist related to complaints of sexual misconduct against billionaire businessman Frank Stronach and whether corporate funds were misused in settlements involving complainants.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

An Ontario Superior Court heard arguments on Thursday in a lawsuit filed by Frank Stronach's granddaughter, who is seeking an order compelling the family business to disclose any documents that might exist related to complaints of sexual misconduct against him and settlements involving complainants.

Stronach, a 91-year-old billionaire businessman, has been charged with sexually assaulting 10 complainants.

The alleged offences include rape, attempted rape, indecent assault, forcible confinement and sexual assault, and relate to alleged incidents dating as far back as 1977 and as recently as this year. None of the allegations have been tested in court.

In a civil suit, Selena Stronach claims that media coverage of the allegations against her grandfather suggest misconduct occurred in a corporate setting and that corporate funds may have been misused and put towards payments for women who may have been abused.

Selena Stronach claims in legal documents that because she has "beneficial interests" in family trusts, she would have suffered from any misuse of corporate funds.

The defendants in the civil case include Frank Stronach's daughter, Belinda Stronach, CEO and president of The Stronach Group, as well as Alon Ossip, a former company CEO.

Belinda Stronach's two children, Nicole and Frank Walker, are also defendants.

Mark Gelowitz, a lawyer for the defendants, argued in court on Thursday that Selena Stronach is on a "fishing expedition," insisting she has no evidence settlement documents exist.

Gelowitz further argued that Selena Stronach was merely trying to embarrass his clients.

Selena Stronach's lawyer, Matthew Gottlieb, argued that allegations of corporate misconduct and misuse of company funds are "only embarrassing if they're true."

Gottlieb further noted that The Stronach group has not categorically denied the existence of documents related to settlements. That suggests such payments were made, he argued.

In an interview with the CBC, parts of which were aired this week, Frank Stronach claimed his accusers are pursuing the cases against him to take his money.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 8, 2024.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version incorrectly identified Frank Stronach as Selena Stronach's father in para 2

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