Bill Cosby has been hit by another string of sexual assault and rape allegations, with five women filing a lawsuit Monday in New York, taking advantage of a new temporary statute of limitations extension.
The five women allege Cosby, now 85, assaulted them between 1969 and 1991.
The statute of limitations in New York for second-degree rape is 20 years and for third-degree rape is 10 years — both of which were extended from five years in 2019 by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo — meaning the alleged assaults are too long ago to be prosecuted.
However, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation in May opening a one-year window for filing historic sexual assault and rape cases. The window opened on November 24th.
In first-degree rape, like murder, there is no time limit on the filing of charges.
Bill Cosby posted this photo to Instagram to celebrate his 85th birthday in July. He was released from prison in June 2021 after serving three years of his 10-year sentence after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his conviction. Now he has been sued again
Actress Lili Bernard is seen protesting the overturning of Cosby’s conviction in July 2021. She is one of five women who sued him in New York on Monday
The five women — Lili Bernard, Eden Tirl, Jewel Gittens, Jennifer Thompson and Cindra Ladd — are suing Cosby, the New York City borough of Queens studio where “The Cosby Show” was filmed, and NBCUniversal, which made the much-loved TV series -Series.
They allege that the comedian used “his power, his fame and his reputation” in “a shameful, horrible way” to abuse them.
They allege that the companies involved with the show “enabled and facilitated” Cosby’s sexual assault.
“Over the course of several decades, Bill Cosby was complicit in the serial sexual assaults of dozens of women for his sexual gratification, while the co-defendants facilitated and assisted those sexual assaults in order to benefit financially through their association with Bill Cosby,” the lawsuit reads .
Two of the five – Bernard and Tirl – were actresses on The Cosby Show.
Cosby can be seen during The Cosby Show which was filmed from 1984 to 1992
Blindfolded, Bernard holds up a scale as she protests in court in Philadelphia in July 2021
Bernard, one of Cosby’s most vocal accusers, who filed a lawsuit against him in New Jersey in October 2021, alleged that Cosby drugged and raped her in 1990 in New Jersey and Nevada and in 1991 at his Manhattan home.
Tirl, who played a small role as a police officer on The Cosby Show, claims Cosby inappropriately touched her without consent in his dressing room in 1989 – after she was repeatedly ushered into his quarters despite telling production staff she didn’t want to leave .
Tirl stated in the filing that a person on set who she thinks may have been an assistant director told her, “It happens all the time. Just go.’
She also claims Cosby said he “owns” NBC.
Gittens alleges that Cosby invited her to his Manhattan home in 1989 or 1990 to discuss work on the series, but then drugged and sexually assaulted her.
Thompson alleges that Cosby tricked her into inappropriately touching him without her consent at his Manhattan home in 1988, when she was 18. The oldest allegation comes from Ladd, who claims Cosby drugged her and raped her in 1969.
She said the two were friends and went to the movies together. She told Cosby she had a headache, and Cosby gave her a pill to help, which made her pass out. She said she woke up in bed and knew she had been raped by him.
Cindra Ladd (left) accused Cosby of raping her in 1969, while Jewel Gittens (right) accused him of assaulting her at his Manhattan home in 1989 or 1990
Eden Tirl (left) said she was attacked in 1989 — a year after Jennifer Thompson (right) said she was groped by him at his Manhattan home
Jordan Rutsky, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said it was “an important step” in holding Cosby accountable.
He remains a free man after being released from prison in June 2021 after serving three years of a 10-year sentence. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court reversed its 2018 sexual assault conviction of Andrea Constand.
Rutsky said: “This is an important step in holding Bill Cosby and his enablers accountable for their actions and finding some measure of justice for the women they have harmed. We are grateful to the plaintiffs in this lawsuit and other similarly situated women for their courage in confronting their abusers.’
Bernard also issued a statement saying, “I am grateful to New York State for being able to stand by my fellow survivors as we support one another in our quest for justice.
“I also encourage all other survivors to stand up and make their voices heard. By collectively holding our perpetrators accountable for their actions, we can set an example for future generations and make this world a safer place.’
Cosby is seen on June 30, 2021, celebrating his release from prison after just three years
Cosby’s longtime spokesman Andrew Wyatt called the case “frivolous” and said it was a case led by famed women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred.
“Unwilling to accept that actor/comedian Bill Cosby was confirmed by the PA Supreme Court almost 1 year and 6 months ago, a pack of 5 old suspected accusers have resurfaced to bring a frivolous civil charge against Mr. Cosby before the U.S. Supreme Court in New York County New York,” Wyatt said.
“For the record, these alleged prosecutors were once represented by Ms Allred and were involved in the Prosecutors’ Parade from 2014 to 2016.
“As we have always said and now see America, this is not about justice for victims of alleged sexual assault, it is ALL about MONEY.
“We believe that both the courts and the court of public opinion will follow the rule of law and will clear Mr Cosby of these alleged allegations.
‘Mister. Cosby continues to vehemently deny all allegations against him and looks forward to defending himself in court.