5 (plus) women sue Bill Cosby for sexual assault

This time the prescription doesn’t protect him. Lili Bernard, Eden Tirl, Jewel Gittens, Jennifer Thompson and Cindra Ladd filed a complaint against actor Bill Cosby on Monday, December 5. Even if the facts are prescribed, the 5 women were able to take legal action thanks to a law, voted on November 24 in New York, which gives victims of sexual violence one year to file a complaint despite the limitation period. Before them, E. Jean Carroll took advantage of this law, on the very day of its adoption, to revive her rape complaint against Donald Trump.

Power abuse

The 5 plaintiffs all accuse Bill Cosby, now 85, of sexually abusing or assaulting them during the 1960s and 1990s. According to the filing reported by the American newspaper Jezebel, “every plaintiff was sexually assaulted and beaten by defendant Bill Cosby in the same way or similarly while using his power, fame and prestige, including the power, fame and prestige bestowed upon him [les] defendants […] abuse its enormous power in a very infamous and gruesome way. »

The complicity of the staff

The complaint filed against the star of Cosby Show he also splashes his accomplices. The NBC television channel, Kaufman Astoria Studios and the production company Carsey Werner Television are thus accused of having “facilitated the sexual assaults of these women“. “It was known that Bill Cosby regularly brought young women into his dressing room, and when you read the complaint, you see that there are cases where staff saw this happening and even encouraged the complainant to submit”said Jordan Rutsky, the attorney for five plaintiffs. It was no hidden secret that Bill Cosby was doing these things. Note that Lili Bernard and Eden Tirl both guest starred on the Cosby Show when they say they were attacked by the actor.

Cosby continues to deny

Custom of fact, Bill Cosby denies these allegations. His spokesman, Andrew Wyatt, even said that his client “was eager to defend himself in court. He also called the lawsuit “frivolous”. “As we have always said, and now America can see, this is not about justice for victims of alleged sexual assaults, it is about MONEY, He added. We believe the courts, as well as the court of public opinion, will follow the rule of law and clear Mr. Cosby of these alleged charges. »

The impunity of an alleged serial rapist

As a reminder, in September 2018, Bill Cosby was convicted of drugging and then sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. He had been sentenced to 10 years in prison and was finally released 3 years later, his conviction overturned for procedural error . In June 2022, the alleged serial rapist was convicted of sexual assault and ordered to pay Judy Huth $500,000 in damages. In total, about 60 women are accusing Bill Cosby of sexual abuse or assault. If the actor fails to defend himself against these allegations in court, because the facts are all statute barred, the new New York law could very well change everything.

Front page photo credit: Flickr.