A civil jury in California found Bill Cosby liable on Monday for drugging and sexually assaulting former waitress Donna Motsinger in 1972.
After an initial $19.25 million award, the amount has increased to $59.25 million after punitive damages.
Increased to $59.25 million
The jury determined the massive award amount during an afternoon session on Monday.
After a couple of hours of deliberation, the jury decided on $40 million in punitive damages for Motsinger. That is in addition to the $19.25 million awarded earlier in the day, with $17.5 million going towards her past mental trauma and the remaining $1.75 million going towards her mental suffering Motsinger may experience in the future.
Motsinger shared a statement on Monday evening, saying, “This verdict is not just about me – it’s about finally being heard and holding Mr. Cosby accountable. I have carried the weight of what happened to me for more than 50 years. It never goes away. Today, a jury saw the truth and held him accountable. That means everything. I hope this gives strength to other survivors who are still waiting for their moment to be heard.”
Cosby and his legal team have appealed the verdict.
It should be noted that Motsinger may not see much of the award anytime soon, as Cosby is said to be nearly broke after multiple convictions and selling off his multimillion-dollar properties in recent years.
Initial Verdict for Motsinger
The initial verdict for Motsinger’s case against Cosby came on Monday morning, with a Santa Monica jury finding Bill Cosby liable for drugging and raping Donna Motsinger 54 years ago.
Similar to other sexual assault trials, both criminal and civil, Cosby did not testify in his own defense. He also, through his lawyers, insists he is being targeted and tainted due to his cultural status.
Motsinger was allowed to sue Cosby under California’s more recent statute of limitations for sex crimes.
During a deposition video played at the trial, Cosby was asked if he had sex with Motsinger, and he replied, “I cannot remember if I did or not.” Cosby is now 88 years old.
The Incident from 1972
Motsinger submitted an 11-page complaint about her interactions with Cosby in 1972. She had been a server at a restaurant in Sausalito. She met Cosby at her job and got invited to his local comedy show at the Circle Star Theatre.
When Cosby brought her backstage, she “began to feel sick and Mr. Cosby gave her what she believed was an aspirin.”
The complaint continued, “Next thing she knew, she was going in and out of consciousness while two men attending to Mr. Cosby were putting her in the limousine with Mr. Cosby. In the limousine, Mr. Cosby sat near the window and put his arms around her. The last thing Ms. Motsinger recalls were flashes of light.”
“She woke up in her house with all her clothes off, except her underwear on – no top, no bra, and no pants,” the lawsuit added. “She knew she had been drugged and raped by Bill Cosby.”
The drugging and rape occurred the same night Cosby recorded the best-selling album Inside the Mind of Bill Cosby.
In the court filings, Cosby’s lawyers argued the allegations were solely based on speculation and assumption, saying Motsinger “freely admits that she has no idea what happened.”
Other Women Speaking Out
Motsinger is now one of many women who have spoken out against Cosby. He has been slapped with dozens of rape, sexual battery, or misconduct allegations.
In 2018, he was convicted of the 2004 rape of former Temple University athletics administrator Andrea Constand. He was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the conviction on procedural grounds in June 2021.
After being released from prison, the claims and court cases just keep piling on.
Cosby was later found guilty in June 2022 of sexually assaulting Judy Huth at the Playboy Mansion in 1975. She was awarded $500,000 in damages.
The allegations range from at least 60 women against Crosby, all of which he has denied.