American comedian and actor Bill Cosby has been denied a new trial in a sexual assault civil case, following a court ruling that upheld a jury’s decision ordering him to pay nearly $60 million in damages to his accuser, Donna Motsinger.
According to court documents, the judge ruled that Cosby failed to demonstrate that he was denied a fair trial or that the damages awarded were excessive. The court also found that there was sufficient evidence presented during the trial to support the jury’s verdict.
The initial ruling awarded Motsinger compensation for both past and future emotional distress, alongside $40 million in punitive damages, bringing the total close to $60 million.
Motsinger had accused Cosby of giving her a pill she believed to be aspirin, after which she lost consciousness and later woke up partially clothed. Her claims formed the basis of the civil lawsuit that ultimately led to the jury’s decision.
During earlier legal proceedings, Cosby admitted to obtaining Quaaludes, stating that he intended to give them to women he hoped to have sex with, a statement that has continued to draw public scrutiny.
Cosby’s legal team had sought a new trial, arguing that the verdict was unjust. However, the court’s latest decision effectively dismisses that request, reinforcing the outcome of the original trial.
The ruling marks another significant development in the series of legal battles that have followed the once-celebrated entertainer, whose career has been overshadowed by multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
