Bill Cosby suffers series of setbacks in sex assault cases

[webfact]

Bill Cosby suffers series of setbacks in sex assault cases
By DENISE LAVOIE

BOSTON (AP) — In both the court of law and the court of public opinion, the case is growing against Bill Cosby.

A year after allegations of sexual assault resurfaced and snowballed, women who've accused him of sexual assault are giving emotional interviews en masse, judges are ruling against him and colleges are continuing to revoke honorary degrees bestowed upon him when he was one of the country's most admired entertainers.

Cosby, 78, now faces five separate lawsuits, including one filed last week by a woman who says Cosby repeatedly sexually assaulted her beginning when she was 16. Earlier this month, a judge in California refused to throw out a lawsuit filed by a woman who accuses Cosby of molesting her when she was 15. Days later, a federal judge in Massachusetts rejected Cosby's bid to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by three women who've accused him of sexually abusing them decades ago. He spent a day being deposed in Boston in connection with a lawsuit by attorney Gloria Allred. And more depositions are likely in the weeks ahead.

If that weren't enough, 27 of the women who say Cosby sexually assaulted them were interviewed together on "Dateline NBC." Ebony magazine ran a cover with a photo of "The Cosby Show" cast under broken glass. And at least three more universities rescinded honorary degrees in the past week.

Tufts University in Massachusetts delivered a double blow, withdrawing both an honorary doctorate of arts and an award for excellence in children's media, saying Cosby has "demonstrated a lack of character and integrity." It joined a growing list of schools — including Fordham, Marquette and Brown University — that have sought to erase any affiliation with Cosby.

All this comes after a year of Cosby and his attorneys denying or refusing to comment as dozens of women went public with stories of sexual assault dating back to the 1960s. Cosby, a comedian and actor who first rose to fame in the '60s, starred as Dr. Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992, a role that cemented his image as an upright family man.

"It appears it's catching up to him now. There's a tsunami of women who have allegedly been affected by Mr. Cosby and are wanting to be heard," said Joseph Cammarata, who represents the three women in the federal defamation suit filed in Massachusetts, where Cosby has a house in Shelburne Falls.

Things could get even worse for Cosby in the next few months. Prosecutors in Pennsylvania and California could still bring criminal charges.

Although the statute of limitations has expired in most of the cases, the release this year of Cosby's deposition in a 2005 sex-assault lawsuit in Pennsylvania seemingly prompted the current prosecutor to reopen the criminal case.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman won't confirm her office is reinvestigating the complaint by Andrea Constand, a former director of women's basketball operations at Temple University, where Cosby was a longtime trustee. However, Ferman said in a recent statement that prosecutors must review prior decisions if new evidence comes to light. And a well-known Philadelphia defense lawyer confirmed that Cosby's camp asked him to represent the actor in a Montgomery County criminal probe.

The statute of limitations for felony sexual assault in Pennsylvania is 12 years, which means Ferman has until January — the same month she leaves office — to file charges.

In California, Los Angeles County prosecutors are reviewing allegations by model Chloe Goins, who sued Cosby this month, claiming he drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2008.

Cosby's lawyer, Martin Singer, has denied Goins' allegations, saying Cosby wasn't in Los Angeles on the date originally provided by her attorneys.

Another lawsuit was filed on Wednesday. Renita Hill accuses Cosby of drugging her drinks and assaulting her at hotels in several cities in the 1980s, beginning when she was still in high school. Her lawsuit alleges that Cosby defamed her when he, his wife, Camille, and his attorney made statements portraying her as a liar. None of the statements mentioned Hill by name.

Singer did not return calls or emails for comment, and Monique Pressley, another Cosby attorney, declined to comment. They have repeatedly denied some of the women's allegations. Cosby has never been charged with a crime.

"What I am saying is that Mr. Cosby has denied the accusations that have been lodged thus far. The sheer volume or number of people who are saying a particular thing does not make it true," Pressley said on "Good Morning America" in July.

Cosby's accusers say his once-impeccable image has been shattered.

"He has created his legacy, and his legacy has taken a shift," said Barbara Bowman, who was a 17-year-old aspiring actress in 1985 when she says Cosby sexually assaulted her.

Bowman was one of 13 women who had planned to testify for Constand in a civil suit Cosby settled in 2006 before it went to trial.

In a deposition in that case, Cosby acknowledged he gave Quaaludes to young women he wanted to have sex with, "the same as a person would say, 'Have a drink.'" He maintained that the sexual activities were consensual and that none of the women took Quaaludes unknowingly.

The lawsuits against Cosby are in the early stages and have a long way to go before they go to trial. Cosby's attorneys will still have additional opportunities to try to get them dismissed.

Tamara Rice Lave, an associate professor at the University of Miami School of Law who was written extensively about sex offenders, said she expects Cosby "is going to be paying a lot of money" in civil judgments. But she said she is concerned that the current climate against Cosby could pressure prosecutors to file criminal charges.

"I think prosecutors might be less careful in reviewing criminal charges because they're so happy to have a case that falls within the statute of limitations and they also know that they're very likely to get a conviction because they have all of this propensity evidence," Lave said.
___

Associated Press writers Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia and Anthony McCartney in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-10-19

[RidgeRunner]

Good!

I never like that condescending a*shole.

40 or more women have claims and that probably is just 10% of the actual victims.

The bastard needs to suffer.

[Jingthing]

At least he's old now before the sheit really hit the fan. Got away with people loving him for so long. A case where the downfall does seem very well deserved.

[Jai Dee]

One offensive racist post has been removed from this thread.

[empireboy]

Sad blight on his legacy and family!

Shame on him....

[chrisdodd]

It's time for him to take the stand....his lawyers have dragged this out much to long.......get on with the trial so they can get this perv off the street

Edited October 19, 2015 by chrisdodd

[godden]

Apart from all that, not a bad day.

[AlexRRR]

Setback?.....the set back is he actually thought he would never get caught...

[RidgeRunner]

It's time for him to take the stand....his lawyers have dragged this out much to long.......get on with the trial so they can get this perv off the street

Of course it will get dragged on for years and the old guy will get sick and die off before he is ever punished.

A pittance in legal fees and a few days of inconvenience visiting the court is about all he's gonna pay.

[metisdead]

A nonsense post has been removed. This is a news forum, items that are newsworthy are posted here.

[Ulic]

The guy is such a hypocrite, and I am sure he is in personal denial. Such a dick.

[humqdpf]

I don't know whether Bill Cosby is guilty. All I know is that there are a large number of accusers and it would be interesting to have their accusations tested in court.

But before we all jump on the bandwagon, lets remember a certain Michael Jackson who was hounded as a child molester for years before being exonerated.

[Searat7]

I am surprised his wife has not left him....she did seek Oprah's advice on this. Hope he ends up in jail.

[ikurauni]

There are so many women are coming forward but some of them might not be legitimate.

If all the accusations are true, he has to pay the price.

[ddavidovsky]

Cosby was riding high on his ego and probably thought he was doing them all a favour. But why didn't these women just say no and walk away? Are they saying he used physical force or drugged them by stealth? If so, why didn't they press charges at the time?

Sex is an elaborate game, and, being an inevitable part of life, everybody has to take responsiblity for understanding all the posturing it involves. Those who don't are just as culpable as those who cross the road without looking.

[willyumiii]

There are so many women are coming forward but some of them might not be legitimate.

If all the accusations are true, he has to pay the price.

Wrong!

If only one of the accusations is true, he has to pay the price.

He should be smothered in Jell pudding on national TV if convicted!

[ggt]

The only reason Bill Cosby is not behind bars...is because of his celebrity status...his color...and his friends in high places.

Ole Bill has not "suffered" at all...his victims have suffered all their lives...it would be appropriate for Old Bill to spend the remainder of his days behind bars thinking about what a scumbag he was taking advantage of young women who trusted him...

[willyumiii]

So many women would be more than willing to "give it up" to a famous and well loved celebrity like he was,

the fact that he chose to drug and assault them instead , shows what a sick pervert he is.

I am sure he could have had more women than he wanted using nothing but his fame, charm, and status.

This is not a mentally healthy individual, and he is dangerous!

[wooloomooloo]

the fact that he chose to drug and assault them instead , shows what a sick pervert he is.

That's for a jury to decide. Not you. Sorry.

[MaeJoMTB]

Sorry, I don't believe them.

All these cases with accusations decades later reek of opportunism.

Plenty of goldiggers prepared to do anything for the chance of a few $$$$$s

Oh, and not only that, I don't care if they are true, they should have said something at the time.

Not left it 20, 30, 40 years.

Edited October 19, 2015 by MaeJoMTB

[ddavidovsky]

Sorry, I don't believe them.

All these cases with accusations decades later reek of opportunism.

Plenty of goldiggers prepared to do anything for the chance of a few $$$$$s

Oh, and not only that, I don't care if they are true, they should have said something at the time.

Not left it 20, 30, 40 years.

I agree. And the 'victims' have probably latched onto this as an excuse for everything that has gone wrong in their lives.

I once had a teacher in primary school who beat me with a slipper. I doubt that experience was any less traumatic than theirs. One lets these things go, but then, the teacher wasn't rich and famous...

[NCC1701A]

he could buy his own private boom boom island in Thailand, BUT NO...

[h90]

Good!

I never like that condescending a*shole.

40 or more women have claims and that probably is just 10% of the actual victims.

The bastard needs to suffer.

For sure he is a pervert, but I am not sure he is guilty.

Taking drugs at sex and women falling for the famous guy and later try to make money out of it is also possible.

I am not saying he is not guilty (most probably he is) but just carefully before being too sure.

[cookee68]

He could share a cell with Rolf Harris

[RidgeRunner]

Qualudes and Percodans were a common party drug back then.

Unfortunately Cosby used them as date rape drugs too.

The scumbag used his Hollywood power, money to seduce, exploit & intimidate these ladies.

[bendejo]

Wonder if he has sedatives left over, he's gonna want some for himself while this goes on.

[hdkane]

So many on this forum seem to forget that an individual should be considered innocent until he/she is proven beyond a reasonable doubt to be guilty...I'm sorry but I have a huge problem with someone who was "repeatedly" assaulted...if I were raped once, and I don't think I would go back for more...

There is something called group think in psychology...when one person makes a statement, others are likely to affirm that statement, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary...

and women are notoriously vindictive...these are facts...not speculation...

Perhaps Cosby drugged and raped some women...they had a chance to come forward then...remember this is the 80s. 90's and 00's...not the 40's...

but they did not make any charges...in fact, most went back for more, in the belief that it would further her career...

both are equally to blame...the women are just spiteful at this point, because they are not "superstars"

let this old man die in peace...

[MaeJoMTB]

"Another lawsuit was filed on Wednesday. Renita Hill accuses Cosby of drugging her drinks and assaulting her at hotels in several cities in the 1980s, beginning when she was still in high school. Her lawsuit alleges that Cosby defamed her when he, his wife, Camille, and his attorney made statements portraying her as a liar. None of the statements mentioned Hill by name."

Let's think about this one ........

He drugged and assaulted her in a hotel ........

Then she went to another hotel with him ..... and he drugged and assaulted her again.

And then a third hotel .......

How many times did she need to be drugged and assaulted before learning not to go to hotels with him?

Just wondering?