Bill Cosby Hit With $19 Million Verdict in 1972 Sex Assault Case

Awarded $19 Million Judgment Against Bill Cosby

Bill Cosby faced a major setback as a jury awarded a $19 million judgment against him for sexually assaulting a woman back in 1972. The plaintiff, Donna Motsinger, claimed that Cosby drugged and raped her after picking her up in a limousine and bringing her to his comedy show in San Carlos, Calif. Motsinger, who was working as a waitress at the Trident in Sausalito, alleged that Cosby befriended her and invited her to the show, offering her a glass of wine in the limo which made her feel sick and eventually caused her to lose consciousness. She woke up at her home with her clothes off except for her underwear.

The trial began in early March and the jury awarded $19.25 million in compensatory damages against Cosby. The jury also found him liable for punitive damages, with a separate proceeding to determine the amount. Cosby’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, expressed disappointment with the verdict and stated that they would be appealing the decision.

Cosby denied the allegations, claiming that he did not drug or assault Motsinger. His lawyers argued that the rape allegation was speculative as Motsinger did not remember the events clearly. Motsinger filed the lawsuit in 2023, taking advantage of a law signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for certain sex assault claims.

This is not the first time Cosby has been held accountable for his actions. In a previous case, he was ordered to pay $500,000 to Judy Huth for an assault that allegedly took place at the Playboy Mansion in 1975 when she was only 16. Cosby withdrew his appeal of that verdict in January. Additionally, Cosby was convicted of sex assault charges in Pennsylvania in 2018 and served three years in prison before the conviction was overturned on technical grounds by an appeals court.