A civil jury in California has ordered Bill Cosby to pay $19.25 million in damages after finding him liable for sexually assaulting a woman in 1972.
The verdict followed a nearly two-week trial in Santa Monica, where jurors ruled in favour of Donna Motsinger, who accused Cosby of drugging and assaulting her when they were both in their 30s. The jury awarded $17.5 million for past damages and $1.75 million for future harm, including emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life.
Cosby’s legal team has expressed disappointment with the ruling and indicated plans to appeal. The decision adds to a series of civil cases against the former entertainer, who has faced allegations from dozens of women over several decades—claims he has consistently denied.
The case revisits incidents from the early 1970s, with Motsinger stating that she was incapacitated after being given pills and later regained consciousness at home with no clear memory of events. Cosby’s lawyers argued that the claims lacked concrete evidence and relied on speculation.
The ruling comes years after Cosby’s 2018 criminal conviction involving Andrea Constand was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, leading to his release from prison in 2021.
A separate phase of the trial will determine whether additional punitive damages will be imposed, potentially increasing the financial penalty against Cosby.
