Bill Cosby found liable in 1972 sexual assault, must pay nearly $60 million in damages
CBS News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- A California civil jury found Bill Cosby liable for drugging and sexually assaulting Donna Motsinger in 1972, awarding her $59.25 million in damages, including $40 million in punitive damages.
- The verdict followed a nearly two-week trial in Santa Monica, with jurors awarding $17.5 million for past damages and $1.75 million for future damages related to emotional and mental suffering.
- Cosby's attorney expressed disappointment and announced plans to appeal the verdict, while Motsinger stated the ruling was about holding Cosby accountable and empowering other survivors.
- The case is one of several lawsuits against Cosby alleging sexual misconduct spanning decades, with previous convictions overturned and other settlements reached.
- Motsinger's allegations date back over 50 years and were first made anonymously in 2005; the trial included testimony from other accusers, including Andrea Constand, whose case led to Cosby's initial criminal conviction.
