Bill Cosby: Millions Ordered in Sexual Assault Cases | Latest Verdicts & Damages

Bill Cosby has been ordered to pay $59.25 million in damages to Evelyn Koumian, a former television show staffer, after a California jury found him liable for sexual assault. The verdict, delivered on February 23, 2024, concludes a civil case stemming from an incident alleged to have occurred in 1972. Koumian had initially filed the lawsuit in 2019, taking advantage of a brief window opened by a California law allowing older sexual assault claims to be revived.

The jury awarded Koumian $19.25 million in compensatory damages and $40 million in punitive damages. According to court documents, Koumian testified that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion after she had been sent to deliver scripts for The Bill Cosby Show. Cosby, 86, did not appear in court for the verdict and has consistently denied the allegations.

This ruling follows a previous civil case in 2018 where Cosby was found liable for sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee, and ordered to pay her $8.6 million. That judgment was later overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on procedural grounds, but the California verdict stands as a significant financial blow to the once-celebrated comedian.

Koumian’s legal team argued that Cosby used his power and influence to silence his victims for decades. They presented evidence of a pattern of similar accusations against Cosby, attempting to demonstrate a consistent predatory behavior. The defense argued that Koumian’s claims were unsubstantiated and that the lawsuit was motivated by financial gain.

The judgment in Koumian’s case is particularly notable given Cosby’s previous legal battles. He was initially convicted of aggravated indecent assault in 2018 in the Constand case, but the conviction was overturned in 2021. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court found that a prior agreement with a former prosecutor had prevented Cosby from being criminally prosecuted, effectively ending the criminal case.

The $59.25 million judgment represents a substantial financial penalty, and legal experts suggest Cosby’s assets could be targeted to satisfy the debt. However, the process of collecting the funds could be complex and lengthy. Cosby’s representatives have not yet issued a statement regarding the verdict or any plans for appeal. As of March 24, 2026, Cosby has not publicly commented on the ruling.