Woman who sued Bill Cosby for sexual battery awarded almost $60 million

A woman who accused Bill Cosby of sexually abusing her more than five decades ago was awarded almost $60 million by a Southern California civil jury Monday, an attorney for the plaintiff said

A woman who accused Bill Cosby of sexually abusing her more than five decades ago was awarded almost $60 million by a Southern California civil jury Monday, an attorney for the plaintiff said.

Donna Motsinger, who accused Cosby of sexual battery, alleging that he abused her while she worked as a server at a Northern California restaurant in 1972, was awarded $59.52 million, including $40 million in punitive damages, and the rest in past and future non-economic damages.

The payments are the result of a 2023 lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Santa Monica.

"This verdict is not just about me — it’s about finally being heard and holding Mr. Cosby accountable," Motsinger said in a statement via her attorneys, Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP.

“I have carried the weight of what happened to me for more than 50 years. It never goes away. Today, a jury saw the truth and held him accountable. That means everything. I hope this gives strength to other survivors who are still waiting for their moment to be heard," she said.