The Law Lords are to decide if a victim of Lotto millionaire and rapist Iorworth Hoare can sue him. Hoare, from Leeds, who won Ј7m after buying a ticket on day release from prison in 2004, attempted to rape a woman, known as Mrs A, in 1988.
In 2005, a High Court judge ruled that a compensation claim by Mrs A was outside the legal six-year limit. The Appeal Court upheld that decision.
The Law Lords will examine whether the six-year law is fair.
They will also consider four other cases in which people who were sexually abused years ago have been prevented from claiming compensation.
Hoare, 53, was jailed for life in May 1989 and spent 16 years in prison.
It was while he was on day release late in 2004, prior to being freed on parole the following March, that he bought the lottery ticket.
'Defective' law The Ministry of Justice is preparing to consult on possible changes to the law in line with recommendations from the Law Commission.
The commission said the current law was "defective" and called for a 30-year limit for claims in personal injury cases.
At the Appeal Court hearing, Mrs A said that, before the win, Hoare had no assets.
On that basis, she took the view that it was "neither sensible nor proportionate" to take civil action against him as there was no chance of him satisfying any claim.
She issued proceedings in December 2004 after learning of the win.
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