Bill Cosby found liable in 1972 sexual assault, must pay over $19M in damages
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A California jury found Bill Cosby liable for a 1972 sexual assault and ordered him to pay $19.25 million in damages.
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A California civil jury found Bill Cosby liable for sexually assaulting Donna Motsinger in 1972 and ordered the 88-year-old comedian to pay her $19.25 million in damages. The verdict marks a significant legal accountability moment for Cosby, whose criminal conviction on sexual assault charges was overturned in 2021 when Pennsylvania's Supreme Court vacated his sentence due to a procedural issue with his trial. Motsinger's civil case proceeded despite that overturned conviction, operating under a lower legal standard of proof. The judgment expands the legal reckoning against Cosby, who has faced numerous sexual assault allegations over decades and previously settled other lawsuits. This case underscores how civil courts can hold defendants accountable even when criminal convictions are reversed on technical grounds.
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Bill Cosby found guilty of 1972 rape, ordered to pay $19.25 million in damages - AV Club
Bill Cosby loses civil sex assault lawsuit in Los Angeles County; faces $19-million judgment - Los Angeles Times
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<p>Donna Motsinger alleges she was drugged and raped by Cosby in 1972 after he gave her a glass of wine in his limo</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&utm_campaign=BN22326&utm_content=signup&utm_term=standfirst&utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p>A California jury found Bill Cosby guilty of sexual assault in a civil trial on Monday, awarding Donna Motsinger $19.25m in damages. Motsinger alleged in the case that while working as a restaurant server in 1972, she was drugged and raped by Cosby after he gave her a glass of wine in his limousine.</p><p>Motsinger sued Cosby after California amended its laws to change the statutes of limitations on when accusers can file sexual assault cases. In remarks <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/20...
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A California jury found that Mr. Cosby had abused Donna Motsinger in 1972 after inviting her to attend one of his comedy shows.
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