Bill Cosby has been ordered to pay his rape
accuser Donna Motsinger more than $19 million in damages after a jury found he
had drugged and sexually assaulted her more than 50 years ago.
A California jury announced the $19.25 million
judgment on Monday during its third day of deliberations, per the New York
Times.
Motsinger first filed her civil lawsuit
against the “Cosby Show” alum in Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2023.
She alleged that Cosby, now 88, sexually
assaulted her after giving her wine and a pill that left her unconscious
following one of his comedy shows in 1972.
“She woke up in her house with all her clothes
off, except her underwear on — no top, no bra, and no pants,” Motsinger’s
lawyers alleged in court papers. “She knew she had been drugged and raped by
Bill Cosby.”
Cosby didn’t testify during the nearly
two-week trial, and his lawyer Jennifer Bonjean insisted that the embattled
comedian would appeal the jury’s decision.
“I was obviously disappointed in the decision,
but we believe we have a strong appeal and we’ll pursue that,” she said after
the judgment was announced.
Motsinger applauded the jury’s judgment.
“It has been 54 years to get justice, and I
know it’s not complete for the rest of the women, but I hope it helps them a
little bit,” the former waitress said from outside the Santa Monica courthouse.
Motsinger also called the $19 million in
damages “icing on the cake” and emphasized how important it was that she was
“believed” and Cosby “in some way has to be accountable for what he did to me.”
The jury also awarded Motsinger punitive
damages, per the Times, although how much has not yet been determined.
Still, the $19.25 million judgment is believed
to be a steep sum for the former “Fat Albert” star.
During a deposition connected to Motsinger’s
civil lawsuit last fall, Cosby claimed that he was struggling financially as a
result of his meteoric fall from grace.
“Due to allegations, whether they be
newspaper, radio, television, magazines or just plain internet, I have not
worked in about 10 years, or more,” he said at the time.
“That means I have not earned a cent through
my being an entertainer, a writer, a television performer, except in reruns,
and my net worth has gone down like a submarine with no motor,” Cosby added.
Monday’s judgment marks the second sexual
assault lawsuit Cosby has lost in recent years.
Bill Cosby speaks to reporters outside his
home after being released from prison.
A Santa Monica civil jury previously found the
comedian liable for sexually abusing another victim, Judy Huth, at the Playboy
Mansion in 1975 when she was just 16 years old. He was ordered to pay Huth
$500,000.
Cosby also reached a $3.5 million settlement
with accuser Andrea Constand in 2006 regarding her sexual assault allegations,
as well as another settlement in 2019 with seven accusers who argued Cosby
defamed them by branding their allegations lies.
The former sitcom star was also convicted of
aggravated indecent assault in 2018 for allegedly drugging and sexually
assaulting Constand in 2004.
Although he was sentenced to three to 10 years
in prison, he only served three before his conviction was overturned by the
Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2021 due to a procedural issue regarding a
previous prosecutor’s agreement.
“I am deeply saddened by this verdict,”
Cosby’s former rep, Andrew Wyatt, told Page Six in a statement in the wake of
Monday’s $19 million judgment. “It sets a dangerous precedent to allow
decade-old allegations, presented without evidence or proof, to stand.”
He continued, “It appears public opinion was
heavily manipulated against Mr. Cosby, making a fair trial nearly impossible.
My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. and Mrs. Cosby during this difficult time;
they deserve to be enjoying their golden years in peace.”
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