Bill Cosby Ordered to Pay $19m to Woman in 1972 Abuse Case

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