Summary: Bill Cosby was deposed for 7 hours on Friday in conjunction with the civil sexual abuse case against him.
According to BDNews24.com, Bill Cosby, 78, testified under oath for the first time since dozens of women accused him of sexual misconduct. Some accusations date back over fifty years.
Thus far, Cosby has not been charged with a crime.
Gloria Allred, the attorney who represents several of the plaintiffs, provided a few details about Friday’s deposition, which was held somewhere in the Boston area. Allred could not comment on the nature of Cosby’s testimony, but said, “We’ll be filing motions with the court in connection with the deposition. We’ll also be seeking to take a further deposition of Mr. Cosby at a later date.”
Two of Cosby’s honorary degrees have been withdrawn.
The deposition was related to Judy Huth’s civil suit, which was filed in California. Huth alleges that Cosby forced her to perform a sex act while they were at the Playboy Mansion in 1974. Huth was just 15 years old at the time.
Cosby’s attorneys have insisted that the Huth’s statements are “false and defamatory.” Check out this interview on ForbezDVD.com with Monique Pressley, one of Cosby’s attorneys, as she vehemently argues against many of the allegations that have been brought against Cosby.
Cosby, who played the father figure on “The Cosby Show,” was deposed in a Pennsylvania case that settled out of court close to ten years ago.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Karlan has agreed to seal the depositions in the current California case until he has had a chance to review the transcripts. He will ultimately decide what portions may be viewed by the public. It is expected that Karlan will review the depositions by December 22.
Allred comments, “The court wants to be sure that both parties receive a fair trial, but [Judge Karlan] also recognizes that the public has an interest in the case.”
Huth also alleges that she has repressed psychological injuries from the incident at the Playboy Mansion that have resurfaced within the past three years. Since her injuries appeared recently, a judge ruled that the statute of limitations did not apply to her suit. The statute of limitations is the deadline by which a case must be filed, and is usually a few years after an injury has occurred in these types of cases.
According to Slate, 51 women have accused Cosby of sexual abuse.
Huth will be deposed on October 15. She was not present when Cosby was questioned.
Source: BDNews24.com
Photo credit: People.com, legalreader.com (Allred), The Daily Beast (Pressley)