Bill Cosby is not accepting his fate with folded arms.
The disgraced comedian has filed an appeal of the jury’s verdict in the recent sexual assault case brought against him. Donna Motsinger accused the former TV star of rape and was awarded a hefty multi-million dollar sum in damages.
Bill Cosby is no stranger to sexual assault allegations. Over the years, several women have tabled cases against him, with one landing him a 10-year jail sentence.
Bill Cosby Says The Jury Went Overboard With Their Judgment
Cosby, known for his talent and character on “The Cosby Show, has made headlines yet again for facing the court in another sexual allegation case. Motsinger walked away with the verdict in her favor, and the jury ordered the actor to pay her nearly $60 million in damages.
Now the actor wants to appeal the judgment of the jury, claiming that they awarded her too much money. His legal representatives have filed court documents requesting a judge to grant a new trial on several bases. The court documents show that Cosby’s team also argues that Motsinger’s testimony “does not, by any stretch, justify the whopping $19.25 million award of compensatory damages.”
The jury awarded Motsinger a whopping $40 million in punitive damages, which Cosby claims is highly excessive and would take away a third of his net worth. He further stresses that the punitive damages award serves no deterrence purposes, especially since he says he’s just “an 88-year-old man with no sight who lives an isolated life” at this point.
Cosby’s Team Alleges That They Were Denied Time In Court
In addition to their stance that Motsinger was walking away with an excessive amount of money, the actor’s team has disclosed other reasons behind their appeal for a re-trial. TMZ reports that the former TV star’s legal team cited that the previous judge did not allow his lawyers to cross-examine Motsinger for previous statements she made to the Cheltenham Police Department.
They also pointed out that the judges did not give them the chance to present evidence of Motsinger’s alleged prior drug use. Motsinger accused “The Cosby Show” star of giving her a pill she thought was aspirin. She claimed that she lost her senses after taking it and woke up the next day in her bed with only her underwear on.
The jury reportedly found Cosby liable for sexual assault and awarded Motsinger $17.5 million for past mental suffering, and $1.75 million for future suffering in addition to the punitive damages. The disgraced actor admitted that he had received recreational prescriptions for Quaaludes from a gynecologist. During the deposition, he disclosed that he planned to give the pills to women with the intention of having sex with them.
Donna Motsinger’s Victory Shows That Justice Delayed Is Not Justice Denied
The said sexual assault took place over fifty years ago. In her testimony, Motsinger, who was a waitress at the time, explained that Cosby invited her to one of his comedy shows. He allegedly had his way with her after giving her wine and a pill that left her incapacitated.
Motsinger noted that the assault took place after she had lost control of her senses and could not fully comprehend or resist what was happening. The jury also heard testimony from other Cosby accusers, such as Andrea Constand, Victoria Valentino, and Janice Baker Kinney, who took the stand. All the women recounted similar experiences, establishing that Cosby had a pattern with his game.
As shared by The Blast, the verdict came after three days of deliberation. Motsinger remarked that she was glad the comedian was finally held accountable after so many years. “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 said.
‘The Cosby Show’ Star Served Time Behind Bars
Constand, who testified during Motsinger’s case, had also dragged the disgraced TV star to court in 2018. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty on three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault. However, Cosby was released in 2021 after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his conviction based on a due process violation.
In 2023, The Blast reported that nine women came forward alleging that the comedian assaulted them during the years they worked on the popular sitcom. One of the women, Lili Bernard, detailed how her encounter with the actor went down in 1990. She claimed that he lured her from New York to Nevada with promises of setting up a meeting for her and top Hollywood producers.
Upon her arrival, Cosby allegedly told her the producers couldn’t make it, then invited her to his hotel room for “a mentoring session.” Bernard explained that she had a non alcoholic beverage and became dizzy and disoriented after drinking it. She believes the former TV star drugged the drink and then raped her.
Bill Cosby Still Has Someone In His Corner
After the news of the comedian’s actions against several women came to light, many began to distance themselves from him in the industry. His career and name became soiled, leading to several lost deals.
Despite everything, his wife, Camille, says she will continue to stand by him, even rising to his defense during his trial. A few years ago, there was rising speculation that Camille was planning to file for a divorce, but she shut down the claims.
The Blast reported that Cosby’s rep, Andrew Wyatt, released a statement at the time stating that it made no sense for a divorce to take place. The actor and his wife were already in their eighties, had been married for over fifty years, and she was not leaving him. She loves Mr. Cosby,” Wyatt said, adding that Camille “is not giving up on their marriage.”
Will Bill Cosby get another chance in court?