Jury finds Bill Cosby sexually assaulted woman in 1972, awards her more than $19M

A California civil jury found Bill Cosby liable for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1972 and awarded her more than $19 million in damages. The verdict marks a significant civil judgment against the 86-year-old comedian and actor, who was convicted of sexual assault in Pennsylvania in 2018—though that conviction was later overturned on procedural grounds. Civil cases require a lower standard of proof than criminal trials, allowing the plaintiff to proceed despite the statute of limitations having long passed for criminal charges. The award represents one of the most substantial financial consequences Cosby has faced following decades of sexual misconduct allegations that emerged publicly during the #MeToo movement.