Must testify
Cosby is ordered to give a sworn deposition to Allred, regarding Huth’s claims that he sexually abused her when she was 15 years old at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. Cosby will testify on 9 October, Huth will answer questions from Cosby’s lawyers on 15 October. Cosby’s lawyers had sought to compel Huth to give her deposition before the comedian, but the judge says Cosby should go first. Allred:
We are pleased that we will now be able to move ahead without further delay on Ms. Huth’s case, and we look forward to taking Mr. Cosby’s deposition.
Forced to testify
The California Supreme Court denies Cosby’s petition to review Huth’s suit, which means the civil suit can continue to the trial phase. Huth claims that Cosby sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 1974 when she was 15 years old. Cosby’s attorneys had sought dismissal of Huth’s lawsuit on procedural grounds, arguing that she lacked required certification from a mental health professional to support her claims, and claiming she sued him only after failing to extort money from him to buy her silence. Her case is the only one of four that are seeking damages for sexual misconduct — the other three are for defamation. Allred says she will take Cosby’s deposition under oath within the next 30 days, and videotape it:
We are looking forward to Mr. Cosby answering questions under oath at his deposition. It’s a very big victory.
Won’t be charged in molestation claim
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declines to file charges against Cosby in the alleged child sexual abuse charge made by Judy Huth, due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.
‘The mere thought of these allegations is truly saddening’
Hefner releases a statement regarding Huth’s allegations that Cosby sexually assaulted her when she was 15 years old at the Playboy mansion.
Bill Cosby has been a good friend for many years and the mere thought of these allegations is truly saddening. I would never tolerate this kind of behavior, regardless of who was involved.
LAPD investigating sexual assault claims
The LAPD is investigating claims of sexual assault made by Huth against Cosby, after meeting with Huth and her attorney Gloria Allred. Allred:
We are here to accept Chief Beck’s invitation to any and all persons to come forward if they believe that they have evidence that they were victims of a crime that occurred in the City of Los Angeles.
Attorney alleges extortion attempt
Cosby’s attorney, Martin Singer, alleges that Judy Huth and her attorney tried to extort money from Cosby before filing suit against the comedian this week. Singer files a notice of demurrer with Los Angeles Superior Court.
Plaintiff Judy Huth filed a meritless and unsupported 40-year-old claim against Bill Cosby alleging decades-old sexual abuse immediately after Mr. Cosby rejected plaintiff’s outrageous demand for money in order not to make her allegations public. Recognizing that they committed extortion and could face significant consequences for their conduct, plaintiff’s counsel Marc Strecker rushed to the courthouse to file this lawsuit on behalf of his client. Under California law, the only way that an alleged victim of childhood sexual abuse would be able to assert an otherwise time-barred claim is to allege that the psychological injury or illness had been repressed and was only discovered within the last three years. Without providing any specific allegations, or the mandated certification from a mental health professional to support her claim, plaintiff alleges that she discovered her psychological injuries and illness ‘within the three years prior to the filing of the complaint.’ Conspicuously absent from her complaint, however, is the fact, confirmed by plaintiff’s counsel, that plaintiff unsuccessfully tried to sell her story to the tabloids nearly a decade ago. Through her lawyer, plaintiff made extortionate threats to Mr. Cosby (through his counsel) about criminal penalties, coupled with ever increasing demands for a six-figure payday to keep quiet about her long since expired claims.
Lawsuit alleges underage rape
Huth files a suit alleging that Cosby sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 1974, when she was 15. The lawsuit is the first that Cosby has faced claiming sexual abuse since 2005, and the first claiming underage abuse. Huth alleges she and a 16-year-old friend met Cosby that year at Lacy Park in San Marino after they wandered over to a movie set where he was shooting. The assault allegedly occurred later, after Huth said they played billiards at Cosby’s L.A. County tennis club, where she was required to drink a beer every time Cosby won a game. Cosby allegedly told them to state that they were 19 years of age if anyone asked, and then took them to the Playboy Mansion. The lawsuit alleges that once at the mansion, Huth used a bathroom and came out to find Cosby sitting on a bed, where he attempted to put his hand down her pants, and then took her hand and performed a sexual act on himself without her consent. Suit:
This traumatic incident, at such a tender age, has caused psychological damage and mental anguish … that has caused her significant problems through her life