Bill Cosby is scheduled to sit down for a deposition today in connection with a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims the comedian sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 1974, when she was 15 years old.
Cosby’s attorneys have denied any wrongdoing by the comedian, who has been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting nearly 50 women across the country. He has never been charged with a crime.
A judge on Wednesday denied a request by Cosby’s attorneys to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Judy Huth, who alleges in her court papers that she has suffered “psychological damage and mental anguish” throughout her life, but only recently discovered the problems were “caused by the sexual abuse perpetrated by Cosby.”
Her lawsuit alleges sexual battery, intention infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Attorneys for the 78-year-old Cosby alleged that Huth’s previous attorney failed to file required documents with the suit and improperly identified Cosby as the defendant in violation of state law. They claimed that publicly identifying Cosby in the lawsuit — which was filed in December 2014 — led to the onslaught of other women across the country who have accused the comedian of drugging and assaulting them.
Huth’s attorney, Gloria Allred, denied the claim, saying more than a dozen women had already come forward anonymously in connection with a 2005 lawsuit against the comedian.
Superior Court Judge Craig Karlan rejected the request to have the case thrown out, conceding that the case may have been improperly filed, but denying that it would prevent Cosby from getting a fair trial.
Details of Cosby’s deposition — and a deposition of Huth scheduled for next Thursday — will not be immediately made public. Karlan on Wednesday ordered that the depositions be sealed for at least 60 days, pending a hearing on Dec. 22.
In an interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” Allred said Thursday she can question Cosby for as long as seven hours.
“The rule for depositions is that we can ask any question that is relevant and that is reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence — in other words, any attorney in any civil case taking a deposition has wide latitude in the questions that will be asked,” she said. “We do not wish to preview the questions because Mr. Cosby will be the first to hear what those questions are.”
