Former Playboy model Victoria Valentino has recently filed a lawsuit against Bill Cosby, alleging that he drugged and sexually assaulted her. The lawsuit was filed under a California law that temporarily lifts the statute of limitations in sexual assault cases. Ms. Valentino claims that the incident took place in 1969, after she had dinner with Mr. Cosby.
According to the lawsuit, after ingesting pills offered to her and her friend by Mr. Cosby, Ms. Valentino became unconscious and later woke up to find herself assaulted. She states that she was physically helpless and incapable of giving consent. The filing also mentions that she expressed her desire to leave, stating, “I want to go home now.”
Ms. Valentino is seeking unspecified damages, as well as court and attorney fees. This legal action comes after Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction was overturned in 2021, leading to his release from prison. It is worth noting that Mr. Cosby’s representative, Andrew Wyatt, has responded to Ms. Valentino’s claims by stating that they lack proof or factual basis and that there are inconsistencies in her statements.
In a statement, Ms. Valentino expressed the profound impact of the trauma inflicted upon her, affecting not only herself but also her children and grandchildren. She hopes that by breaking her silence and sharing her truth, it will serve as a testament to her family and provide hope and healing for other survivors who have yet to find their voices.
Bill Cosby, once known as “America’s Dad” for his role in the hit sitcom The Cosby Show, saw his reputation shattered as numerous women came forward with allegations of rape, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct spanning back to the 1960s. Mr. Cosby has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that all of his sexual encounters were consensual.
In 2018, he was convicted of aggravated indecent assault against Andrea Constand. However, this conviction was later overturned by Pennsylvania’s highest court, which ruled that he should not have been tried due to an agreement he had reached with a previous prosecutor in 2005, wherein he would not face charges.
Last year, in a civil case in California, a jury found Mr. Cosby liable for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old in 1975 at the Playboy Mansion, resulting in an order for him to pay $500,000 (£399,000) in damages.
The BBC has reached out to Bill Cosby for comment on the recent lawsuit filed by Victoria Valentino.