Bill Cosby has been ordered to pay ex-waitress Donna Motsinger more than $19 million after he was found guilty of sexual abuse.
According to the New York Times, a civil jury in California found that Cosby, now 88, had drugged and sexually assaulted Motsinger, now 84, after escorting her to one of his comedy shows in 1972.
The jury made its decision on Monday, March 23, after nearly three days of deliberation.
While Cosby did not testify in his own defense, the former TV star has denied the allegations. His legal team also confirmed to Luxury Handbag Shopping that they plan to file an appeal.
“Mr. Cosby was denied a fair trial. No one can meaningfully defend against allegations that are a half-century old. This case exemplifies how the retroactive abolition of status of limitations cannot be reconciled with due process,” Cosby’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean said in a statement to Us. “The jury was bombarded with uncharged, unproven accusations, turning the proceedings into a trial of Mr. Cosby’s character rather than an evaluation of the plaintiff’s claims. The excessive damages award bore no relation to the evidence and was clearly intended to make Mr. Cosby a symbol. This represents a profound failure of the legal system and sets a dangerous prescendent.”
A deposition video was played in court during the two-week trial, in which Cosby was asked if he had sex with Motsinger. He replied, “I cannot remember if I did or not.”
In his latest case, Cosby has been ordered to pay Motsinger $17.5 million for her past mental trauma. He also had to pay another $1.75 million for mental suffering.
Us has also reached out to Motsinger’s attorneys for comment.
Motsinger first filed her lawsuit in September 2023. According to court documents obtained by Us, the former waitress alleged that Cosby drugged and raped her when she was working at a Bay Area restaurant more than 50 years ago.
“Mr. Cosby picked Ms. Motsinger up in a limousine from her house and drove her to the Circle Star Theater. Mr. Cosby gave Ms. Motsinger a glass of wine in the limo along the way,” the lawsuit alleged. “At the Circle Star Theater, Mr. Cosby took Ms. Motsinger to the dressing room there. She began to feel sick and Mr. Cosby gave her what she believed was an aspirin. Next thing she knew, she was going in and out of consciousness while two men attending to Mr. Cosby were putting her in the limousine with Mr. Cosby.”
The documents continued, “In the limousine, Mr. Cosby sat near the window and put his arms around her. The last thing Ms. Motsinger recalls were flashes of light. She woke up in her house with all her clothes off, except her underwear on – no top, no bra, and no pants.”
Cosby was once a highly regarded actor in Hollywood thanks to his overwhelmingly warm and paternal roles in The Cosby Show, I Spy and other projects.
In recent years, however, the comedian has faced several allegations of sexual assault, harassment, rape or sexual misconduct. His attorneys have maintained his innocence and believe the actor is being targeted and tainted as a result of his cultural status.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
