LOS ANGELES — A California jury has found Bill Cosby liable for sexual assault in a civil case dating back more than five decades, ordering the comedian to pay roughly $19 million in damages to the accuser.
The verdict stems from a lawsuit filed by Donna Motsinger, who alleged that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1972 after inviting her to a comedy show. Jurors sided with Motsinger after deliberating for several days, concluding that Cosby was responsible for the assault.
The jury awarded approximately $19 million in total damages, including compensation for past and future emotional distress. The panel also found that Cosby acted with malice or oppression, opening the door for additional punitive damages.
Motsinger, now in her 80s, said the ruling represents long-awaited accountability after decades of silence. Her lawsuit was filed in 2023, made possible by changes to California law that temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for older sexual assault claims.
TMZ has provided further details:
As we reported … Motsinger pointed out that Cosby admitted during a deposition that he obtained recreational prescriptions for Quaaludes from a gynecologist at a poker game.
Cosby also said he planned to use the pills to give to women in the hopes of having sex with them.
Motsinger alleged Cosby gave her a pill that she thought was aspirin. She claimed she felt off after taking it and said she woke up the next day in her bed with only her underwear on.
Cosby, 88, denied the allegations and did not testify during the trial. His legal team has indicated plans to appeal the verdict.
A Pattern of Civil Liability
The ruling is the latest in a series of legal setbacks for Cosby, who has faced accusations from dozens of women over several decades. While many cases were never prosecuted criminally due to statutes of limitations, civil lawsuits have continued.
In 2022, Cosby was found liable in another civil case involving a minor and ordered to pay $500,000
Cosby spent nearly three years in prison after being convicted of aggravated indecent assault. However, he was released in 2021 when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the conviction, citing a prior agreement in which a prosecutor had indicated he would not be charged.
Broader Implications
The latest judgment underscores how civil courts have become a key avenue for accountability in older sexual assault cases, particularly as states expand legal windows for victims to file claims.
For Cosby, once one of the most prominent figures in American entertainment, the verdict adds to a long-running legal and reputational fallout that is likely to shape the remainder of his life.
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