Bill Cosby Liable For 1972 Sexual Assault

Santa Monica, Calif. — A California civil jury found Bill Cosby liable for drugging and sexually assaulting Donna Motsinger in 1972, awarding her $19.25 million in damages after a nearly two-week trial. Six reputable news organizations informed this report: AP News, Reuters, CBS News, NBC News, ABC News, and Fox News.

Each of the bullet points immediately below have been confirmed by at least four of the six respected sources we curated on this story.

• A California civil jury found Bill Cosby liable for drugging and sexually assaulting Donna Motsinger in 1972, awarding her $19.25 million in damages after a nearly two-week trial.
• The verdict marks the second major legal judgment against Cosby in recent years, following his 2018 criminal conviction that was later overturned.
• Motsinger testified that Cosby drugged her with a spiked drink at a jazz club where she worked, then assaulted her.
• Cosby did not attend the trial and his attorneys did not present a defense, though he has consistently denied the allegations.
• The jury awarded $18 million in compensatory damages and $1.25 million in punitive damages.

Additional Details Reported

The trial took place in Santa Monica, California, where Motsinger filed her lawsuit under a state law that temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for sexual assault claims. Cosby, now 88, continues to face multiple civil lawsuits from women who have accused him of drugging and assaulting them over several decades.

AP News noted that Cosby’s spokesperson called the verdict “a sham” and vowed to appeal. Reuters reported that the case represents a significant victory for survivors seeking legal recourse years after alleged assaults.

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