The consequences of Bill Cosby’s actions have finally got to him. The comedian is known for his role in the development of a positive portrayal of African-Americans on television. Lately, he has been in the news for accusations of sexual harassment by multiple women.
One case is from 1975. The victim was 16 years old then and testified that Cosby invited her to Playboy Mansion and indulged in inappropriate behavior with her. On Tuesday, the jurors announced the verdict after nearly a month-long civil trial. They found Cosby guilty in the sexual assault case.
Read More: Accusations Of Sexual Assault Against Bill Cosby Resurface As His Civil Trial Begins
Comedian Bill Cosby Sexually Abused A Teenager
The jury’s final verdict came in the favor of Judy Huth, who’s now 64. Los Angeles County awarded her $500,000 in damages. They also found that the star of ‘The Cosby Show‘ intentionally caused harmful sexual contact with Huth as he knew she was under 18. His conduct was driven by unnatural or abnormal sexual interest in a minor. The decision brings to a close one of the final remaining legal claims against the 84-year-old. He has already been accused by more than 50 women, over five decades.
In court filings and in testimony at the trial, Huth said she and a friend met the stand-up comedian at a park, and that he later took her and her friend to the Playboy Mansion. She testified that Cosby, who was 37 at the time, assaulted her, forcing her to perform a sexual act without her consent, a claim the actor repeatedly denied.
Cosby’s Legal Team Considers Verdict A “Win“, But Why?
Huth, who first filed a lawsuit against Bill Cosby in 2014, initially said the incident took place in 1974 when she was 15. Later she changed her statement and said that it happened in 1975.
Cosby did not appear in person at the trial and denied the allegation. In a video of a deposition shown to jurors, Cosby said he did not remember Huth. But he said the incident could not have happened because he would not have pursued sexual contact at that time with someone who was under the age of 18.
Jennifer Bonjean, his attorney, challenged the victim’s account throughout the trial. She even called her revised timeline “trial by ambush”. Whereas Cosby’s spokesperson, Andrew Wyatt, said the actor’s team plans to appeal the jury’s decision. His team even described it as a win for the actor, noting that it was far less than the $8m Huth’s attorney, Gloria Allred, sought.
“This is a huge victory and the Cosbys are so happy with the representation of Jennifer Bonjean,” Wyatt said. “Allred was trying to get $8m. They did not get punitive damages. That is a huge win.”
Judy Huth Is Being Hailed For Her Courage
Allred, Huth’s lawyer, thanked the jury for its verdict and praised her client for her “courage and many sacrifices to win justice in this case”.
“We are honoured to represent her,” she said. “I want to thank all of the women who spoke out over the years, and refused to be silent in the face of what they believed to be injustice and sexual abuse by powerful men… We are proud of Ms Huth and our victory against Bill Cosby.”
The trial took place nearly a year after the star was freed from prison in Pennsylvania. There, he was serving jail time on charges of drugging and sexually assaulting another woman. The state’s court overturned Cosby’s conviction on a legal technicality last year. He was released two years into his sentence.
Read More: Oscar-Winning Director Paul Haggis Arrested On Sexual Assault Charges
Read More:“Give It To Us Already”: ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 Volume 2 Trailer Makes Fans Ask For More
