A jury in California has ordered Bill Cosby to pay $19.25m (£14.3m) in damages to a former waitress after concluding he drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1972.

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The case was brought by Donna Motsinger, now 84, who said the incident occurred after Cosby invited her to attend one of his comedy performances. According to court filings, she was picked up from her home in a limousine and given wine along with a pill she believed to be aspirin.

Allegations Dating Back Five Decades

Motsinger told the court the substance left her incapacitated. Legal documents state she drifted in and out of consciousness, recalling only flashes before later waking at home partially undressed. She said she believed she had been drugged and assaulted.

At the time, she worked at the Trident restaurant in Sausalito, a venue known for attracting high-profile figures, including Cosby.

Cosby Denies Claims

Cosby, 88, has denied the allegations, consistent with his response to numerous other claims made against him over several decades. His legal team argued that Motsinger could not definitively state what had happened.

His lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, said the verdict would be appealed.

The jury’s award includes compensatory damages, with a decision on possible punitive damages still pending, meaning the total amount Cosby may be required to pay could increase.

Legal History and Broader Context

The ruling adds to a long series of legal battles involving the former entertainer, whose public image was severely damaged after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1960s.

Cosby was previously convicted in Pennsylvania on sexual assault charges but was released from prison in 2021 after the conviction was overturned on procedural grounds.

Despite the growing number of allegations, Cosby has consistently maintained that all encounters were consensual.

Career Overshadowed by Allegations

Once celebrated as a pioneering figure in American television, Cosby rose to prominence with his hit sitcom The Cosby Show, which made him one of the most recognisable entertainers of the 1980s and 1990s.

However, the wave of accusations has overshadowed his career, leading to ongoing civil cases such as the one decided this week.

The latest verdict represents one of the most significant financial penalties he has faced in relation to historical claims.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 24 March 2026

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Does he even have any money left to pay the award, which I expect will be appealed.

More dirt on "America's Dad"?

Say it ain't so, Bill.

"Din do nuffn'"

21 hours ago, webfact said:

a pill she believed to be aspirin

She doesn't mention having a headache so why take aspirin? Why voluntarily?

Cosby undoubtedly did bad things but surely prosecuting decades later is a little late?

21 hours ago, AnnaBanana said:

More dirt on "America's Dad"?

Say it ain't so, Bill.

"Din do nuffn'"

I haven't followed the case, but women can be devious and target rich guys.

Prosecutions against Cosby are dodgy. Cosby was a kinky <deleted> and his kinks were an openly known and accepted secret. Why did they prosecute the guy 50 years after his so called offenses? Cosby started saying things that made white america scared.

19 million dollars is a big incentive to lie. Is there any evidence other than her claims?

1 hour ago, rickudon said:

19 million dollars is a big incentive to lie. Is there any evidence other than her claims?

The $19m was not there (as an incentive) when (if) she was presenting "her lies". That came much later.

Unbelievable 🤔

This kind of judgment encourage more crooks to try.

On 3/24/2026 at 11:21 AM, webfact said:

given wine along with a pill she believed to be aspirin.

😳🤨😂🤣

So can I charge a bar on soi 6 with sexual abuse and robbery if I wake up with hazy recollection and 6000 baht missing from my wallet and a used condom in the bin

Easier to pay the slappers on Soi 6 and not worry about a court case 50 years later.

19 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

So can I charge a bar on soi 6 with sexual abuse and robbery if I wake up with hazy recollection and 6000 baht missing from my wallet and a used condom in the bin

What makes you think that? Nothing in this thread would lead any reasonable person to conclude that from the verdict in the civil case against Cosby.

23 hours ago, save the frogs said:

I haven't followed the case, but women can be devious and target rich guys.

Tell us how you’ve suffered for your wealth.

Personally I believe her.

Cosby was a dirty old dawg.

6 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What makes you think that? Nothing in this thread would lead any reasonable person to conclude that from the verdict in the civil case against Cosby.

If word of mouth is all it takes then I can tell rape just as loudly as some of these women.

Also read it again your giggle muscle seems broke

It was a ha ha mate