Source: Spencer Platt / Getty
Bill Cosby has struck back against some of the dozens of women who’ve accused him of sexual assault. The world-famous comedian countersued seven women who’d sued him for defamation, saying they actually defamed him.
The claim said that by accusing him of sexually assaulting them, the women hurt his reputation so much that plans for a new family comedy on NBC were derailed. His lawyer Monique Pressley said in a statement that the women made “malicious, opportunistic, and false and defamatory accusations of sexual misconduct against” Cosby.
Pressley said they made the accusations to hurt Cosby’s reputation and to obtain financial gain. Cosby is seeking unspecified damages and public retractions from the seven women: Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, Linda Traitz, Louisa Moritz, Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis and Angela Leslie.
On Monday the lawyer for the seven women, Joseph Cammarata, issued a statement saying his clients want their day in court and “expect that their good name and reputation will be restored.”
Cammarata said “If anyone is surprised by Cosby’s actions today, they shouldn’t be. He’s taken a page out of the defense attorney’s playbook in an effort to shift the focus of this legitimate inquiry. It is curious that he has filed a claim only against these seven women, when there are scores of other women who have made similar allegations of sexual abuse and assault against Mr. Cosby.”
Cosby has not been charged with any crime and also denied he had sexually assaulted any of the seven women. Over 40 women have come forward to publicly accuse 78 year old Cosby, of assaulting them over four decades, often saying he supplied them with drugs.
Cosby’s lawyers or representative denied the accusations in the media. Seven of the women sued Cosby for defamation which resulted in Cosby’s counterclaim.
The accusations have taken a toll on Cosby’s reputation as a product spokesman, standup comedian and television star. The counterclaim said the seven women made accusations after he signed a contract in early 2014 for a new family comedy with NBC and also expected to sign a contract with Netflix.
However those projects were killed or delayed, the counterclaim says.Besides defamation, the women are also being sued for tortious interference and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson said tortious interference is “a fancy way of saying so many bad things have happened to me I’ve been taken off TV, I’ve lost honorary degrees it’s all your fault and I want damages as a result.”
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