Bill Cosby Loses Civil Trial, Must Pay Nearly $60 Million
A civil jury in Santa Monica, California, has found Bill Cosby liable for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman more than 50 years ago and ordered him to pay $59.25 million in damages. The verdict, reached Monday after nearly two weeks of trial, is believed to be the largest damages award Cosby has faced in any civil case.
The Verdict
Jurors found Cosby, 88, liable for the sexual battery and assault of Donna Motsinger in 1972. In the first phase of deliberations, the jury awarded Motsinger $17.5 million in past damages and $1.75 million for future damages, covering mental suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, grief, anxiety, humiliation and emotional distress. In a second phase Monday afternoon, jurors added $40 million in punitive damages.
Deliberations lasted approximately two days.
Cosby's attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, said the defense was disappointed by the verdict and intends to appeal.
What Motsinger Alleged
Motsinger was working as a server at a restaurant in Sausalito, near San Francisco, when she said Cosby invited her to his stand-up comedy show at a theater in nearby San Carlos. Both were in their 30s at the time.
According to her lawsuit, filed in 2023, Cosby gave her wine and two pills she believed were aspirin. She said she was going in and out of consciousness as two men put her in a limousine. She said she woke up at home with her clothes removed.
Cosby's attorneys argued in court filings that the allegations rested almost entirely on speculation, noting that Motsinger freely admitted she had no clear memory of what happened. Cosby did not testify at trial.
Motsinger Speaks Out
In a statement following the verdict, Motsinger said the ruling represented a moment of accountability she had waited decades for.
"I have carried the weight of what happened to me for more than 50 years," she said. "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."
A Long Legal History
Motsinger first made her allegations anonymously in a 2005 lawsuit filed by Andrea Constand, a Temple University sports administrator who said Cosby sexually assaulted her in Pennsylvania. Cosby was convicted in that criminal case in 2018 and sentenced to three to 10 years in prison. He served nearly three years before Pennsylvania's Supreme Court threw out the conviction, ruling that Cosby had given incriminating deposition testimony under a prior agreement that he would not be prosecuted.
Constand testified as a witness at Motsinger's civil trial.
In 2022, a separate Santa Monica jury awarded $500,000 to a woman who said Cosby sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 1975 when she was a teenager.
Monday's award is the largest Cosby has been ordered to pay in any case. He has settled some lawsuits and been ordered to pay in others. At least 60 women have made allegations of rape, sexual assault or sexual harassment against him — all of which he has denied.
From "America's Dad" to Civil Liability
Cosby rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and television star, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in American entertainment. He was widely referred to as "America's Dad" at the height of his career. His criminal conviction in 2018 made him the first celebrity tried and convicted in the #MeToo era before that verdict was overturned on procedural grounds.
The civil courts have continued to provide a separate avenue for accountability. Monday's verdict is the latest and most significant outcome in that ongoing legal reckoning.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.