The state Supreme Court declined Wednesday to hear a legal challenge by Bill Cosby’s lawyers to a lawsuit filed by a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by the comedian at the Playboy Mansion in 1974, when she was 15.
Attorneys for Cosby maintained that there were procedural legal irregularities in Judy Huth’s case, which was filed Dec. 2, and argued that it therefore should not be allowed to move forward.
Huth was originally represented by another lawyer. Her current attorney, Gloria Allred, challenged the Cosby lawyers’ petition for review.
“Today, I am extremely happy to announce that we have won a major victory in the case …,” Allred said. “Mr. Cosby, through his attorneys, has been trying to block Ms. Huth from moving forward for some time.”
She said a scheduled June 26 deposition of Cosby was canceled due to his attorneys’ petition. She said she hopes a new date will be set soon.
Huth is among more than 40 women who allege that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted them.
She 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.