Woman alleges comedian drugged her after inviting her to a show.
Prospective jurors returned to a Santa Monica courtroom Tuesday as attorneys continued selecting a panel for a civil trial accusing Bill Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman more than five decades ago, as reported by Fox 11 News.
The lawsuit was filed by Donna Motsinger, who alleges the 88-year-old actor and comedian assaulted her after inviting her to attend one of his performances in the early 1970s.
According to the complaint, Motsinger worked at the Trident restaurant in Northern California, where Cosby was a frequent customer during a period in 1972. The suit states that after one encounter at the restaurant, Cosby followed Motsinger as she drove toward her home in Mill Valley, pulled alongside her vehicle, and invited her to attend a show he was performing in San Carlos.
Motsinger agreed to attend, and the lawsuit says Cosby later arranged for a limousine to take her to the theater. During the ride, Cosby allegedly offered her a glass of wine.
The complaint states that Motsinger recalls flashes of light before losing consciousness. She later woke up at home wearing only her underwear, according to the lawsuit filed in September 2023.
Cosby’s attorneys deny the allegations. They say he does not recall any sexual contact with Motsinger and contend that if any encounter occurred, it was consensual. His legal team also denies that Cosby gave the plaintiff drugs without her knowledge.Cosby was found liable in a separate civil case filed by Judy Huth in Santa Monica in 2022 involving similar allegations. Jury selection in the trial is expected to continue this week.
