Donna Motsinger, who claimed Bill Cosby drugged and raped her in 1972, awarded $19 million in civil trial in Southern California - 6abc Philadelphia

Donna Motsinger won a $19 million civil judgment against Bill Cosby in Southern California after a jury found he drugged and raped her in 1972. The verdict marks a significant civil liability finding against the 86-year-old comedian, who has faced numerous sexual assault allegations over decades and was convicted of aggravated indecent assault in Pennsylvania in 2018, though that conviction was later overturned on procedural grounds. This case proceeded despite Cosby's lack of criminal jeopardy in California, as civil lawsuits operate under a lower burden of proof than criminal trials. The award adds to the financial and reputational toll Cosby has faced since a 2015 deposition in another case reignited public scrutiny of decades-old allegations against him. Motsinger's case is among numerous civil claims brought by women alleging sexual assault by Cosby stretching back to the 1960s.