Bill Cosby Liable for 1972 Sexual Assault, Jury Awards $19.25 Million
A California jury found Bill Cosby liable for sexually assaulting a woman in 1972, awarding Donna Motsinger $19.25 million in damages. The verdict, reached on Monday, March 23, 2026, marks another legal setback for the disgraced comedian, following a similar ruling in 2022.
Details of the Case
The jury awarded Motsinger $17.5 million for past mental suffering and $1.75 million for future suffering. Jurors also found that Cosby acted with “malice, oppression, or fraud,” potentially opening the door for additional punitive damages. The trial began on March 10 in Santa Monica, California.
Motsinger’s Testimony
Motsinger, now 84, testified that she met Cosby while working as a waitress at The Trident restaurant in Sausalito, California, in 1972. She alleged that Cosby befriended her and later invited her to a recording of his stand-up show, Inside the Mind of Bill Cosby, at the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos. Motsinger claims Cosby gave her wine that made her feel ill and then provided her with pills he claimed were aspirin.
According to Motsinger’s lawsuit, she lost consciousness and awoke at her home with her clothes partially removed, believing she had been drugged and sexually assaulted. “Next thing she knew, she was going in and out of consciousness,” the lawsuit stated. “She knew she had been drugged and raped by Bill Cosby.”
Testimony from Other Accusers
During the two-week trial, jurors heard testimony from Andrea Constand, as well as Victoria Valentino and Janice Baker Kinney. Valentino, a former Playboy model, alleges Cosby convinced her to swallow pills in 1969, leading to a subsequent assault.
Cosby’s Defense and Previous Legal Battles
Cosby, 88, has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that any encounters with the women were consensual. His lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, argued that the case relied on speculation and that Motsinger’s claims were based on assumptions rather than concrete evidence. Bonjean stated she plans to appeal the judgment.
In 2018, Cosby was convicted of three counts of indecent aggravated assault against Andrea Constand and sentenced to three to ten years in prison. But, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 2021, citing a prior non-prosecution agreement. Cosby reached a private civil settlement with Constand in 2006.
Previous Verdicts and Legal Precedent
This verdict follows a 2022 ruling in the same courtroom where another accuser, Judy Huth, won a jury award against Cosby for a 1975 assault at the Playboy Mansion. The recent judgment underscores a growing trend of accountability for alleged sexual misconduct, even decades after the incidents occurred.
Statements Following the Verdict
Spencer Lucas, Motsinger’s attorney, stated, “Bill Cosby used his power, celebrity, and influence to silence his victims for decades. The jury saw the truth and recognized the bravery Donna showed in standing up for herself. The verdict brings vindication for our client, who has spent 54 years battling the trauma she endured from this evil predator.”
Caroline Heldman, a professor at Occidental College and co-founder of Stand With Survivors, called the verdict “a day of unmitigated justice” for Motsinger and other survivors.
Sources: TheGrio, Washington Examiner, NBC News, Gulf News