A former waitress who sued Bill Cosby in civil court has won a judgment of $19 million against Bill Cosby, the now-disgraced Hollywood icon.
The sexual battery incident occurred in 1972. Donna Motsinger said the former star gave her wine and a pill that left her incapacitated after picking her up at her home in a limousine in 1972. The allegations brought forth by Motsinger are similar those alleged by other Cosby survivors who have also sued the former actor.
Cosby was freed from prison in Pennsylvania in 2021 nearly three years into a sentence for sex assault after his conviction was thrown out on a technicality.
The jury in the Santa Monica case could award even more in punitive damages that they have yet to determine.
Motsinger, now 84, used to work as a waitress at a restaurant called the Trident in Sausalito, near San Francisco, that was a haunt for celebrities, including Cosby. She alleged in her lawsuit that Cosby invited her to one of his stand-up comedy shows and after picking her up to drive her to the gig he gave her a pill that she thought was aspirin, according to the court papers.
In 2023, Cosby was sued in Nevada by 9 women who allege a similar pattern of abuse dating back to the 1960’s.
Last June, a jury in a civil trial decided he sexually assaulted a teenager at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles in 1975, and awarded her $500,000 in damages.
Have You Experienced Sexual Abuse or Assault?
This verdict is a reminder that survivors can and do find justice, no matter how much time has passed. If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse or assault, our attorneys are here to listen and help you understand your legal options.
Contact Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP today for a free, confidential consultation. It is never too late to seek justice.
Thomas specializes in the litigation and trial of significant civil sexual assault, medical malpractice, personal injury, mass tort, and product liability actions. His innovative approach has led to 20 verdicts and numerous settlements in excess of one million dollars on behalf of his clients, including a recent landmark verdict for $58 Million. He has been recognized as “outstanding in the field of advocacy” nationally and internationally.
