Bill Cosby Ordered To Give Second Deposition In LA Sexual Assault Lawsuit
SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — While he was asking a Pennsylvania judge to dismiss a criminal case against him, Bill Cosby was ordered by a judge in Santa Monica Tuesday to undergo a second deposition in a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims he sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 1974.
Cosby underwent a deposition in the lawsuit by Judy Huth in October, but Huth's attorney, Gloria Allred, filed a motion asking for another one "based on his refusal to answer certain questions" during the first session.
Superior Court Judge Craig Karlin granted her request during a hearing in Santa Monica.
"The judge has also ordered Mr. Cosby to pay the costs of the second deposition that we will take, and has ordered that this second deposition take place within the month," Allred told reporters after the hearing.
No date has yet been set for the deposition.
The sexual battery lawsuit filed by Huth alleges the comedian sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 1974 when she was 15.
Cosby has been accused of sexually molesting or abusing about 50 women over four decades, with many alleging the comedian drugged them before nonconsensual sex acts. Cosby has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
He had not been charged with a crime until Dec. 30, when he was charged in Pennsylvania with aggravated indecent assault. Prosecutors allege he sexually assaulted Andrea Constand, a former Temple University student, in January 2004 after plying her with drugs and wine.
His attorneys were in court in Pennsylvania today asking that the case be dismissed.
The former Montgomery County District Attorney who declined to arrest Cosby on sex-crime charges a decade ago testified Tuesday that he believes his decision shields the comedian from ever being prosecuted in the case.
Former D.A. Bruce Castor took the stand in a bid by Cosby's lawyers to get the case against the TV star thrown out long before trial because of what they say is a non-prosecution agreement with Castor.
The current district attorney insists there is no record of any such promise.
Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles, another woman who claims she was assaulted by Cosby dropped her federal lawsuit against the comedian.
Chloe Goins sued Cosby in October, alleging he sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 2008 when she was 18.
Her attorney, Spencer Kuvin, filed paperwork in federal court today dismissing the case "without prejudice," meaning the case could be re-filed.
No reason was given for the dismissal.
The District Attorney's Office last month declined to file any charges against Cosby stemming from Goins' allegations, citing the statute of limitations an insufficient evidence.
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