Jury selection got underway in Santa Monica on Monday in a civil trial that reaches back more than fifty years, as Donna Motsinger presses sexual-battery claims against Bill Cosby. Motsinger alleges the comedian drugged and sexually assaulted her after picking her up from the Trident in Sausalito and driving her to a performance at the Circle Star Theater in 1972. Jurors are expected to hear from filings, witnesses, and taped testimony instead of Cosby himself, who is not expected to appear in person.
Allegations in the complaint
Motsinger filed suit in September 2023, alleging that Cosby followed her home, later arrived in a limousine, gave her wine and a pill she believed was aspirin, and that she eventually woke up in her home wearing only underwear and “knew she had been drugged and raped.” According to Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, the complaint also names Cosby’s production company and the Circle Star Theater as defendants and seeks damages under California’s revived-timeline statute.
Deposition excerpts expected to be central.
A sealed deposition, in which Cosby is reported to have said he refilled prescriptions for Quaaludes several times and intended the pills for women, has emerged as a centerpiece of Motsinger’s case and is expected to be played for jurors. TMZ has reported on the deposition excerpts and related filings, while the defense maintains that any clips the jury sees are being taken out of context.
Judge's rulings and case status
A Santa Monica judge previously overruled a demurrer, finding that Motsinger’s claims were revived under the Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act and allowing the lawsuit to move toward trial. The court docket and tentative ruling identify the case as number 23SMCV04562 and detail the court’s reasoning under the revived-claims statute. Rulings.law reviewed the tentative ruling.
How does this fit into Cosby's legal history?
The Motsinger trial follows a 2022 Santa Monica civil verdict that found Cosby liable for sexually abusing Judy Huth and ordered him to pay $500,000, a result that plaintiffs’ lawyers now point to when arguing a pattern of conduct. The Los Angeles Times covered the Huth trial and the court’s rulings after the verdict.
What to expect at trial
Cosby’s legal team has moved to limit testimony from other accusers, while Motsinger’s lawyers have indicated they will play Cosby’s deposition if he does not take the stand in person. Men's Journal reports that many past accusers may attend the proceedings and that the judge’s witness rulings will determine how much background material the jury ultimately hears.
Legal context
The lawsuit proceeds under California’s lookback revival provision, which allows certain otherwise time-barred sexual-assault claims to go forward if statutory conditions are met, a threshold issue the judge addressed when overruling the demurrer. The tentative ruling discusses how the revived-claims statute applies to corporate defendants and to allegations that an organization participated in a cover-up. Rulings.law provides the court’s analysis.
The trial opened Monday in Santa Monica Superior Court, with both sides expected to move briskly through evidence disputes and witness decisions as jurors begin hearing the core themes of each case. Coverage will track key filings and courtroom developments, including any rulings on the use of Cosby’s deposition and decisions on additional witnesses.
