A jury in California has found Bill Cosby responsible for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1972, awarding her $59.25 million US in damages. The verdict, reached after a nearly two-week trial in Santa Monica, holds Cosby, 88, liable for the sexual battery and assault of Donna Motsinger. The awarded damages include $17.5 million US for past damages and $1.75 million US for future damages, encompassing various forms of suffering and distress.
In a subsequent phase of the trial, the jury granted an additional $40 million US in punitive damages. Cosby’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, expressed disappointment and confirmed plans to appeal the ruling. Motsinger, in a statement, emphasized the significance of the verdict in holding Cosby accountable and providing a sense of closure after enduring the trauma for over five decades.
The trial’s outcome follows Cosby’s release from prison in Pennsylvania, where a previous conviction was overturned by the state Supreme Court based on comparable allegations. Motsinger, who had worked as a server in Sausalito, detailed in her 2023 lawsuit how Cosby allegedly drugged and assaulted her after inviting her to a comedy show.
Accusations against Cosby were first raised in a 2005 lawsuit initiated by Andrea Constand, another victim of his sexual misconduct. The trial included testimonies from Constand, leading to Cosby’s original conviction in 2018, which was subsequently annulled. The lawsuit by Motsinger mirrors claims made by numerous women against Cosby, positioning him as a prominent figure in the #MeToo movement.
