California Jury Rules Against Bill Cosby
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A civil jury in California determined on Monday that Bill Cosby is liable for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1972, resulting in a landmark decision that requires him to pay $59.25 million in damages.
After a trial lasting nearly two weeks in Santa Monica, jurors held the 88-year-old Cosby accountable for the assault on Donna Motsinger. They awarded her $17.5 million in past damages and an additional $1.75 million in future damages, which cover emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and various forms of humiliation and anxiety.
In the subsequent phase of the trial, jurors imposed an extra $40 million in punitive damages.
Cosby’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, expressed disappointment with the verdict, noting their intention to appeal. The response from the company regarding the punitive damages has yet to be addressed.
The jury deliberated for roughly two days before reaching its decision.
This finding comes about five years after Cosby was released from prison when Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court overturned a previous conviction related to similar allegations. Although he has settled multiple cases and faced financial penalties in others, the recent ruling marks one of the largest amounts he has been ordered to pay.
Motsinger stated, “This verdict is not just about me; it is about finally hearing and holding Mr. Cosby accountable. I have carried this weight for over 50 years. Today, a jury saw the truth, and that means everything to me. I hope this empowers other survivors to find their voices.”
Motsinger, who works as a server in Sausalito, filed her lawsuit after saying Cosby invited her to a comedy show in 1972. At the time, both were in their 30s. She claimed that Cosby provided her with wine and pills, making her lose consciousness as two men placed her into a limousine.
The complaint alleges that she woke up at home with minimal clothing and knew that Cosby had drugged and assaulted her.
Cosby’s legal team argued that the allegations are largely based on speculation, asserting that Motsinger admitted to having no recollection of certain events.
While other lawsuits against him lagged, Motsinger’s case proceeded swiftly through the California court system, culminating in just two and a half years from filing to verdict.
Jesse Creed, one of Motsinger’s attorneys, expressed gratitude towards the jury for their careful consideration and commended Motsinger’s bravery in coming forward.
Though Cosby did not take the stand, his witnesses included Andrea Constand, a former Temple University athletics administrator. Cosby had previously been convicted of sexual assault in Pennsylvania in 2018, a decision that was later reversed, leading to his release after nearly three years in prison.
Motsinger initially made her claims anonymously in a 2005 lawsuit tied to Constand’s case. Generally, the Associated Press refrains from disclosing the names of individuals unless they come forward willingly as victims of sexual abuse.
In 2022, a jury awarded $500,000 to a woman who asserted that Cosby assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 1975, when she was a minor.
Motsinger’s experience aligns with claims of rape, sexual assault, and harassment lodged by over 60 women against Cosby, all of which he denies.
The once-beloved entertainer, often referred to as “America’s Dad,” faced a dramatic fall from grace after being convicted, although that conviction has since been overturned in light of legal maneuvering surrounding his testimony.
