Jury Awards $59.25 Million to Cosby Assault Survivor

A civil jury in California has determined that Bill Cosby is liable for the sexual battery and assault of Donna Motsinger, which occurred in 1972. After a trial lasting nearly two weeks in Santa Monica, jurors awarded Motsinger $59.25 million. This includes $17.5 million for past damages and $1.75 million for future damages, encompassing mental suffering and emotional distress.

An additional $40 million in punitive damages was awarded in the second phase of the trial. Cosby's attorney expressed disappointment and confirmed their intention to appeal the verdict. Motsinger, who stated she carried the weight of the event for over 50 years, expressed gratitude that a jury saw the truth and held Cosby accountable.

The decision follows Cosby's release from prison nearly five years ago when Pennsylvania's Supreme Court overturned a criminal conviction related to similar allegations. While Cosby has settled some lawsuits and been ordered to pay in others, Monday's award is reportedly the largest he has faced.

Motsinger's lawsuit detailed how Cosby invited her to a comedy show, offered her wine and pills, and that she later woke up undressed in her home, believing she had been drugged and raped. Cosby's legal team argued the allegations were speculative, but the lawsuit moved swiftly through the courts.

Cosby did not testify during the trial. Andrea Constand, whose allegations led to Cosby's previous criminal conviction and subsequent release, was among the witnesses. Motsinger had initially made her allegations anonymously in 2005 in a lawsuit filed by Constand.

In 2022, another jury awarded $500,000 to a woman alleging sexual assault by Cosby in 1975. Motsinger's lawsuit echoes claims made by at least 60 other women against Cosby, all of which he has denied. The former star, once known as "America's Dad," was previously convicted in the #MeToo era, but that conviction was overturned.