Bill Cosby Found Liable in 1972 Sexual Assault Case
In a significant legal development, a civil jury in California determined that Bill Cosby is liable for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1972. The verdict, delivered by a jury in Santa Monica, resulted in an award of $19.25 million to the plaintiff, Donna Motsinger.
The 88-year-old former entertainer was found responsible for the sexual battery and assault of Motsinger after a trial that spanned nearly two weeks. Cosby’s legal team, led by attorney Jennifer Bonjean, expressed disappointment with the decision and announced plans to appeal.
This verdict comes nearly five years after Cosby was released from a Pennsylvania prison when his criminal conviction on similar charges was overturned by the state Supreme Court.
According to the lawsuit filed earlier this year, Motsinger, who was a server at a Sausalito restaurant, claimed that Cosby invited her to a comedy show in San Carlos. She alleged that Cosby provided her with wine and pills she believed were aspirin, after which she lost consciousness. Motsinger stated she awoke in her home, partially clothed, and concluded she had been drugged and raped by Cosby.
Cosby’s defense argued that the accusations were largely speculative, noting that Motsinger admitted uncertainty about the events.
The jury awarded Motsinger $17.5 million for past damages and an additional $1.75 million for future damages related to mental suffering and emotional distress. Deliberations lasted just over a day, and the trial will proceed to a phase considering punitive damages.
Cosby did not take the stand during the trial. Among the witnesses was Andrea Constand, a Temple University sports administrator, whose sexual assault case against Cosby in Pennsylvania led to a conviction that was later overturned.
Motsinger’s allegations were initially made anonymously in a 2005 lawsuit filed by Constand. Both women have since chosen to publicly disclose their identities. While the Associated Press generally avoids naming sexual abuse victims, exceptions are made when individuals willingly come forward.
Last year, a Santa Monica jury awarded $500,000 to another woman who accused Cosby of assault at the Playboy Mansion in 1975. Motsinger’s case is one of numerous allegations involving rape, sexual assault, and harassment against Cosby, all of which he denies.
Once celebrated as “America’s Dad,” Cosby became the first high-profile figure convicted in the #MeToo movement. His conviction was overturned after it was determined that he had provided incriminating deposition testimony under the belief of immunity.
