Bill Cosby was found liable in a civil lawsuit stemming from an alleged sexual assault in 1972. A California jury ordered him to pay approximately $19.25 million to the victim, Donna Motsinger, in March 2026. The case relates to claims that Cosby drugged and assaulted Motsinger when she was 16 years old.
Cosby, 88, has denied the allegations, stating that any encounters were consensual. The civil case was made possible under a California law allowing sexual assault claims without a statute of limitations. The jury also considered punitive damages for malice or fraud, contributing to the final total awarded.
This ruling follows previous legal proceedings involving Cosby, including a criminal conviction in 2018 that was later overturned due to procedural issues. The case continues to draw public attention as a high-profile example of legal accountability in historical sexual assault allegations. The verdict is limited to civil liability; Cosby has not been found guilty in any criminal proceeding in connection with this 1972 incident.
