Bill Cosby is definitely going to face a year of battles in 2016. The judge in the defamation lawsuit filed by former supermodel Janice Dickinson against the comedian recently made a ruling. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Debre K. Weintraub will allow the complaint to go to trial. This is a victory for Dickinson and a damaging defeat for Cosby, who is also facing a criminal trial in Philadelphia for an alleged sexual assault that occurred over a decade ago.
In 2014, Dickinson, in a now infamous TV interview, claimed that she was drugged and raped by the iconic comedian in 1982. Cosby denied the allegation and a former lawyer for Cosby called Dickinson’s story a fabrication and labeled her a liar. In 2015, Dickinson filed a defamation lawsuit against Cosby. Cosby now faces the very real possibility of being questioned under oath over the rape allegations by Dickinson. Shortly after the ruling, Dickinson stated, “I’m very happy with the decision today, I want Bill Cosby in court, I want him to stand under oath. I hope to get justice for all women, I will not go down, I will keep fighting and stay strong.”
Dickinson is among more than 50 women who have accused Cosby of sexual assault in a pattern of behavior that stretches back decades.
Lisa Bloom, attorney for Dickinson, stated: “We are going to have a trial with Bill Cosby on the subject of whether or not he raped Janice Dickinson; I’d say that’s a pretty good day. We’ve been fighting for a year to get this outcome, just to get access to the court and the court ruled today that the case goes forward, it will not be dismissed as requested and we are very, very pleased, it’s a great victory for us. The court held that our evidence was sufficient to get to trial, we submitted nine witness declarations, including some witnesses who said that Janice told them that Bill Cosby had raped her, years before any other woman came forward publicly. The court also found it significant that Bill Cosby failed to submit a declaration.”
