Bill Cosby Ordered to Pay Over $59 Million in 1972 Sexual Assault Case
A California jury has found Bill Cosby liable for drugging and sexually assaulting Donna Motsinger in 1972, awarding her $59.25 million in damages. The verdict marks another significant legal setback for the 88-year-old comedian, whose career has been largely derailed by numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.
After a nearly two-week trial in Santa Monica, jurors determined Cosby was responsible for the sexual battery and assault of Motsinger. The award includes $17.5 million in past damages and $1.75 million for future damages, encompassing “mental suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, inconvenience, grief, anxiety, humiliation, and emotional distress.” An additional $40 million was awarded in punitive damages, CBS News reported.
“This verdict is not just about me — it’s about finally being heard and holding Mr. Cosby accountable,” Motsinger said in a statement. “I have carried the weight of what happened to me for more than 50 years. It never goes away. Today, a jury saw the truth and held him accountable. That means everything. I hope this gives strength to other survivors who are still waiting for their moment to be heard.”
Motsinger, who was a server at a restaurant in Sausalito near San Francisco at the time of the alleged incident, stated in her 2023 lawsuit that Cosby invited her to his stand-up comedy present in nearby San Carlos. Both were in their 30s at the time. She alleges Cosby gave her wine and two pills she believed were aspirin, after which she began losing consciousness and remembers flashes of light as two men placed her in a limousine. She later awoke at her home partially undressed, believing she had been drugged and raped.
Cosby’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, stated after the initial award that they are disappointed and fully intend to appeal the verdict. She did not immediately comment on the punitive damages. Newsweek noted that Cosby’s legal team argued Motsinger’s claims relied on speculation and assumption, asserting she had no direct memory of the alleged assault and that any encounter was consensual.
The decision comes almost five years after Cosby was released from prison in Pennsylvania when the state Supreme Court overturned his criminal conviction based on similar allegations. He has settled some lawsuits and been ordered to pay in others, but this award is reportedly the largest he has been ordered to pay in a case. Fox News reported that Motsinger also filed a complaint against Cosby’s production company, Jemmin, Inc., and the Circle Star Theater, alleging they failed to ensure the safety of guests.
This case adds to the ongoing legal and cultural reckoning surrounding allegations against Cosby, a once-beloved figure in American entertainment. The outcome underscores the growing legal avenues available to survivors of sexual assault, even for incidents that occurred decades ago.
