Woman Receives $19 Million in Bill Cosby Sexual Battery Case
Bill Cosby Ordered to Pay $19.25 Million for Sexual Battery Incident from 1972
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – A jury awarded $19.25 million to Donna Motsinger on Monday in her lawsuit accusing Bill Cosby of sexual battery that she claims occurred more than 50 years ago. The verdict marks a significant moment in a case that continues to unfold in the public eye.
The lawsuit, filed in Santa Monica Superior Court, alleges that Cosby sexually assaulted Motsinger in 1972 while she was working as a server at the Trident restaurant in Sausalito. Motsinger contended that Cosby frequented the restaurant during that time. According to the complaint, after serving him at his table, Cosby followed her when she left work one day, offering to take her to a performance he was staging in San Carlos.
Motsinger accepted the invitation, and a limousine was arranged to transport her to the theater. During the ride, she claims Cosby gave her a glass of wine. The suit states that she soon began to feel ill after consuming the drink. Motsinger recalled that Cosby then provided her with what she believed was an aspirin, after which she lost consciousness.
When she regained awareness, Motsinger found herself at home, only wearing her underwear. The lawsuit asserts that she knew she had been drugged and raped by Cosby.
In response, Cosby’s legal team, representing the 88-year-old comedian, stated that he does not recall any sexual contact with Motsinger, arguing that if it did occur, it was consensual. They also denied providing Motsinger with drugs without her consent.
After three days of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict, including the decision to award punitive damages, which remain to be determined.
Following the ruling, Jennifer Bonjean, an attorney for Cosby, expressed disappointment and indicated that an appeal would be pursued. Conversely, Motsinger expressed relief that Cosby would be accountable for his actions.
In a statement outside the courthouse, Motsinger reflected on the lengthy pursuit of justice. "It has been 54 years to get justice, and I know it’s not complete for the rest of the women, but I hope it helps them a little bit," she remarked, adding that the financial aspect of the verdict felt like "icing on the cake."
This latest ruling follows a June 2022 case in which another jury found Cosby liable for sexually abusing Judy Huth in 1975 at the Playboy Mansion, awarding her $500,000. Additionally, Cosby was previously convicted in 2018 for sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. Although he served three years in prison, his conviction was overturned in 2021, leading to his release.
