Woman who sued Bill Cosby for sexual battery awarded $19.2 million
Woman who sued Bill Cosby for sexual battery awarded $19.2 million
A Southern California civil jury has awarded $19.2 million to Donna Motsinger, a woman who accused Bill Cosby of sexual battery over five decades ago, according to her attorney. The verdict, delivered on Monday, comes in a 2023 lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Santa Monica. Motsinger alleged that Cosby assaulted a server he encountered at a Northern California restaurant in 1972.
Details of the Sexual Battery Case
The lawsuit claims Cosby committed sexual battery against the server, though the specific incident is not widely publicized. Cosby, 88, has consistently denied the accusations, maintaining his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. A representative from his team expressed disappointment, calling the outcome a “dangerous precedent” that permits old claims, lacking solid evidence, to prevail.
“Deeply saddened” by the verdict, the former representative said the decision risks letting unproven, decade-old allegations dominate the courtroom.
In a separate trial, Cosby was found guilty in Pennsylvania of three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault in 2018. The conviction stemmed from charges related to drugging and attacking Andrea Constand in 2004. However, the state Supreme Court later overturned the verdict in 2021, citing a violation of Cosby’s right to avoid self-incrimination. Despite the overturned ruling, Cosby has not altered his stance, insisting he remains innocent.
Tim Stelloh, a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital, reported the latest developments in the ongoing legal saga involving Cosby.
