Several women have accused Bill Cosby of sexual misconduct over the years, and the once-beloved TV star is now facing yet another legal defeat. Known for his role as America’s “funny dad,” Cosby was first convicted in 2018 on three counts of sexual assault after being accused of drugging a woman with pills that left her unable to resist. The conviction led to a prison sentence, but it was later overturned in 2021 when a court ruled that a prior non-prosecution agreement had been violated, resulting in his release.
His legal troubles, however, did not end there. In 2022, a civil jury found Cosby liable for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in 1975, ordering him to pay $500,000 in damages. That case was one of several revived under temporary legal “lookback windows” that allowed older claims — previously blocked by statutes of limitations — to move forward.
Now, Cosby has once again been found liable. A civil jury in Santa Monica ruled that the 84-year-old committed sexual assault against a woman identified as Donna Motsinger more than five decades ago. The decision adds to a growing list of legal judgments against the entertainer, whose reputation has been deeply damaged by the allegations.
More than 60 women have publicly accused Cosby of similar abuse dating back to the 1960s, describing patterns of being drugged and assaulted. Many of those claims were never prosecuted because too much time had passed under existing laws. In recent years, however, changes in legislation in several states have allowed some survivors to pursue civil action despite the decades that have elapsed.
The latest ruling further underscores the long shadow cast over Cosby’s legacy. Once celebrated for his groundbreaking success in television and comedy, he now faces continued legal accountability as courts revisit allegations that span much of his career.
