Bill Cosby's "Bad Acts"?

Accuser's lawyers say at least 10 other women willing to testify about alleged assaults, druggings

By Marcus Errico Apr 22, 2005 8:25 PMTags

Bill Cosby's doping and groping lawsuit has just been ratcheted up.

Per court papers filed this week by accuser Andrea Constand, the man once deemed America's Dad committed "prior similar sexual assaults and/or drugging incidents" against at least 10 other women. All 10 alleged victims are willing to testify against Cosby in the pending sexual assault case brought by Andrea Constand.

Constand, 31, filed a federal suit last month, claiming Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in January 2004 and then defamed her when she came forward with her charges. The lawsuit also contains allegations of battery, infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy.

She brought her lawsuit after the prosecutor in Cosby's home base of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, decided not to press criminal charges against the entertainer, citing "insufficient credible and admissible evidence."

Cosby has denied Constand's allegations. His lawyer released an earlier statement saying the entertainer "will address this matter through the judicial process and not through the media."

Constand's attorneys believe the testimony of the 10 additional women will show that Cosby has a long, sordid history of sexual attacks. Of the 10, only one is identified. Tamara Green, a California-based attorney and former model, who came forward shortly after Constand's charges were first publicized. Green, 57, told the Philadelphia Daily News that Cosby drugged and attempted to molest her some three decades ago.

The remaining nine are listed as "Jane Doe," although the cities and states of their residences are listed in the court docs.

Six of the women have retained the same lawyer: Joyce Dale, who heads the Delaware County (Pennsylvania) Women Against Rape. Dale has so far declined comment on her clients.

Constand's legal crew is fighting to keep the women's identities secret.

"The anticipated testimony of the Jane Doe witnesses relates to the obviously sensitive subject matter of sexual assaults and/or druggings," plaintiff attorneys Bebe Kivitz and Dolores Troiana write.

"Of equal concern is disclosure of the witnesses' identities may place them at risk of further physical and psychological harm from media exposure or from overly zealous fans."

Kivitz and Troiana are also seeking records from a New York case in 2000 in which Cosby was accused of improper behavior by La'Chele Covington, who appeared on Cosby. Charges were never brought in that case.

The lawyers have also unsuccessfully tried to have Cosby deposed. Cosby's lawyers are working on their written response to Kivitz and Troiana's filing.

In her lawsuit, Constand says she met Cosby through her former job in the athletic department at Temple University, the comedian's alma mater, and that she viewed him as a mentor. In January 2004, she says she joined Cosby and other friends for dinner at a Philly restaurant. After the meal, Cosby invited her back to his home in the suburbs to offer her advice about her future. While there, she says Cosby offered her pills he described as "herbal medicine." After injesting the drugs, the suit says, her "knees began to shake, her limbs felt immobile, she felt dizzy and weak."

Then, while she was "barely conscious," Cosby took her to a sofa, where, according to the suit, he "touched her breasts and vaginal area, rubbed his penis against her hand and digitally penetrated her."

Her claims of defamation stem from an interview Cosby gave in the latest issue of the National Enquirer in which he suggested his accuser was looking for a payday.

"I am not going to give in to people who try to exploit me because of my celebrity status," he told the tabloid.

"Sometimes you try to help people and it backfires on you and then they try to take advantage of you."