March 24, (THEWILL) — A California jury, on Monday, found Bill Cosby liable for sexually assaulting a former waitress, Donna Motsinger, in 1972, awarding her $19.25 million in damages.
The verdict was reached in Los Angeles County following a civil trial tied to allegations that Cosby drugged and assaulted Motsinger after inviting her to one of his comedy shows more than five decades ago.
Jurors awarded $17.5 million for past non-economic damages and $1.75 million for future suffering. A separate phase of the trial later added $40 million in punitive damages, bringing the total to $59.25 million.
Motsinger said Cosby gave her wine and a pill that left her incapacitated before the assault. The jury sided with her account. Cosby has denied the allegations.
“It has been 54 years to get justice”, Motsinger said after the verdict, calling the decision a step forward for other women.
Cosby’s legal team said he plans to appeal the ruling.
The case was allowed under a California law that lets older sexual assault claims be filed.
Cosby, 88, has faced decades of allegations from nearly 60 women. He was convicted in 2018 of sexually assaulting former basketball player Andrea Constand, but that conviction was overturned in 2021 due to a legal agreement with prosecutors.
The latest verdict marks one of the largest civil judgments against the former entertainer and adds to a series of legal cases tied to similar accusations.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
