Donna Motsinger was 30 years old when she says Bill Cosby allegedly drugged and assaulted her at a restaurant in Sausalito. On Monday, more than five decades later, a California jury finally believed her.
Background
The incident allegedly occurred in 1972 at The Trident restaurant in Sausalito, where Cosby was a regular customer. Motsinger worked there as a waitress. During one shift, after waiting on Cosby, he reportedly followed her home to Mill Valley.
According to the lawsuit filed in 2023, Cosby pulled up next to Motsinger and invited her to attend his standup show "Inside the Mind of Bill Cosby" in San Carlos. A limousine arrived to transport her to the performance.
During the drive, Cosby offered Motsinger a glass of wine, which she accepted. "She began to feel sick and Mr. Cosby gave her what she believed was an aspirin," the lawsuit stated.
Motsinger later woke up at home wearing only underwear. "The last thing Ms. Motsinger recalls were flashes of light. She woke up in her house with all her clothes off, except her underwear on – no top, no bra, and no pants. She knew she had been drugged and raped by Bill Cosby," the lawsuit alleged.
The Investigation
The civil trial took place at Santa Monica Superior Court. Two previous Cosby accusers, Victoria Valentino and Janice Baker Kinney, testified about their own experiences with the actor, describing similar patterns of being drugged and assaulted.
The jury deliberated for three days before returning a verdict in favor of Motsinger. They found that Cosby acted with "malice, oppression, or fraud," which could lead to punitive damages in a second trial phase.
Cosby's defense team argued that he had no recollection of the incident and that any sexual contact, if it occurred, was consensual.
Key Takeaways
- The jury awarded Motsinger $19.25 million in damages
- The alleged assault occurred in 1972 at The Trident restaurant in Sausalito
- Motsinger was 30 years old at the time of the alleged assault; she is now 84
- Two previous Cosby accusers testified during the trial
- The jury found Cosby acted with "malice, oppression, or fraud"
What's Next
The case now enters a second phase to determine punitive damages. Cosby's legal team is expected to appeal the verdict. Motsinger said she hopes the outcome provides some measure of justice for other alleged victims.
"It has been 54 years to get justice, and I know it's not complete for the rest of the women, but I hope it helps them a little bit," Motsinger said following the decision.