The California Supreme Court ruled against Bill Cosby on Wednesday, allowing a civil suit brought against him for allegedly sexually abusing a 15-year-old in 1974 to move forward. The suit brought by Judy Huth, who is now in her 50s, opens Cosby up to the possibility of being deposed under oath, according to Huth’s attorneys.
Cosby’s lawyers have been working to have the case dismissed and requested the state Supreme Court review it. Cosby was scheduled to be deposed in the case last month, but it was put on hold pending the outcome of Cosby’s petition. The court declined the petition on Wednesday; Huth’s lawyer says she will depose the comedian within the next 30 days. “We are looking forward to Mr. Cosby answering questions under oath at his deposition and we will continue to seek justice for our courageous client, Judy Huth,” Huth’s attorney Gloria Allred said.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office decided against bringing criminal charges against Cosby last year for the decades-old allegation that he sexually abused the then 15-year-old Huth at the Playboy Mansion. Judy Huth is one of more than 40 women to come forward with stories of sexual abuse at the hands of Cosby. Cosby never faced criminal charges for the allegations, all of which exceed the statute of limitations on such crimes. Even without criminal penalties on the table, the recent release of a decade old deposition where Cosby discussed procuring drugs for young women in order to have sex with them, shows the potential power of compelling Cosby to testify under oath.
