New Hampshire Woman Drops Defamation Suit Against Bill Cosby
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A 72-year-old New Hampshire woman who says Bill Cosby raped her in 1965 has withdrawn her civil defamation lawsuit against the comedian.
Kristina Ruehli filed a notice to voluntarily dismiss the suit Friday. It came after a federal judge in Springfield, near where Cosby has a home, rejected the comedian's bid to dismiss the case Thursday.
Ruehli's lawyer, Megan Deluhery, tells The Associated Press her client has decided not to pursue the lawsuit because the legal landscape has changed.
Cosby now faces criminal prosecution in Pennsylvania. Civil actions also remain in play in Massachusetts and elsewhere by dozens of other accusers.
Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt said his client hopes more lawsuits are dropped or dismissed and that Cosby looks forward to fighting the rest in court.
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