‘America’s Dad’ Bill Cosby Falls From Grace… Jury Finds Him Liable for Sexual Assault From 52 Years Ago, Awarding $287 Million in Damages

Legendary comedian Bill Cosby (88), once revered as “America’s Dad” in the United States, has been ordered to pay a huge sum in damages over a sexual assault case from more than 50 years ago.

Admitted to sexual assault after drugging… “Justice restored after 54 years”

According to The New York Times (NYT), a jury in the Los Angeles (LA) County Superior Court in California reached a verdict on the 23rd (local time) that Bill Cosby raped Donna Motsinger, a restaurant employee at the time in 1972, and ordered $19.25 million (about 287 billion won) in damages.

At trial, the victim, Motsinger, testified that Cosby invited her to a comedy show, gave her wine and pills, and then raped her while she was losing consciousness. Immediately after the verdict, she said, “It took 54 years to get justice,” adding, “I hope it will give some strength to other female victims, even if only a little.” By contrast, Cosby’s side denied the allegations in full and said it would immediately file an appeal.

Another massive damages ruling… The ugly underside exposed by ‘#MeToo’

This is not the first time Cosby has faced a massive damages order related to sexual crimes. In 2022 as well, he was found responsible for assaulting a teenage girl, Judy Huth, and ordered to pay $500,000 in damages. The current ruling is regarded as a symbolic case in which the victim’s side prevailed in a civil trial, despite issues related to statutes of limitations that can make it difficult to prove past criminal conduct.

Once beloved worldwide for the popular 1980s sitcom “The Cosby Show,” he fell from grace as revelations continued that, over roughly 50 years, he committed sexual crimes against about 50 women amid the fallout from the “Me Too” movement. He was sentenced to prison in a 2018 criminal trial and served time, but in 2021 his conviction was overturned for procedural reasons, leading to his release after just three years, which sparked public outrage.

Legal disputes and social condemnation that won’t end

This large damages verdict shows that even if Cosby avoided criminal punishment, he could not escape civil liability. Despite his age—88—Cosby has continued to appear in court, and now, instead of the title “America’s Dad,” he is set to be recorded as one of the most shocking sex offenders in U.S. history.

Legal circles expect this ruling to have a meaningful impact even on other victims whose lawsuits are still pending. Attention is also focused on the size of Cosby’s assets and the progress of the upcoming appeal proceedings.