Bill Cosby Ordered to Pay $19.25M in Sexual Assault Case | 1972 Assault

A California jury on Monday ordered comedian Bill Cosby to pay $19.25 million to Donna Motsinger, a woman who alleged he drugged and sexually assaulted her more than five decades ago after inviting her to one of his performances in Los Angeles. The verdict stems from a civil lawsuit filed by Motsinger, who claims Cosby drugged and raped her in 1972 after they met at a restaurant in Northern California.

Motsinger testified that Cosby offered her a glass of wine while they traveled in a limousine and that she subsequently lost consciousness intermittently. She stated it took 54 years to obtain justice, according to reports from The New York Times.

Cosby maintained that any sexual encounter was consensual and did not testify at the trial, a factor reportedly influencing the jury’s decision in favor of Motsinger. “I know this [verdict] isn’t complete for the rest of the women, but I hope it helps them,” Motsinger said, as reported by The New York Times.

The ruling comes as Cosby has stated he is facing financial difficulties. He was previously incarcerated in 2018 for sexually abusing Andrea Constand, becoming the first celebrity to be imprisoned during the #MeToo era. His conviction was overturned in 2021 by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court due to a prior civil agreement in which he compensated Constand.

Despite his release from prison, Cosby continues to face multiple civil lawsuits related to allegations of sexual misconduct. The current case is one of several older sexual assault claims that have been revived under California’s “look-back” law, which allows victims to pursue legal action even decades after the alleged incidents occurred. According to reports, five other women were permitted to testify about similar alleged conduct by Cosby in an attempt to establish a pattern of behavior.

Motsinger’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Cosby invited her to his demonstrate at the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos after meeting her at The Trident restaurant in Sausalito. She claims he gave her a pill that caused her to lose consciousness and that she awoke at her home wearing only her underwear. Cosby, in a November deposition, admitted he desired a sexual encounter with Motsinger but stated he could not recall whether it occurred.

The trial unfolded in Los Angeles Superior Court, with Motsinger, now 84, accusing the 88-year-old comedian of drugging and sexually assaulting her after a comedy show near San Francisco in 1972. The case highlights a broader reckoning surrounding allegations of sexual misconduct against prominent figures, facilitated by legislation like California’s “look-back” law.