Bill Cosby: 'I didn't settle' defamation lawsuit and 'I'm not paying' but my insurer will

MSN ^ | 3 hours ago | Maria Puente

[cba123]

A civil defamation lawsuit filed by seven women against Bill Cosby has been settled, according to court filings and the plaintiffs' lawyer, but Cosby says he's spitting mad about it and blaming his insurance carrier.

(please see link for full article)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/bill-cosby-i-didnt-settle-defamation-lawsuit-and-im-not-paying-but-my-insurer-will/ar-BBVFcrU?ocid=spartandhp

[cba123]

That is not actually why I posted this story. It is in the story however, that I saw what really intrigued me.

Apparently Bill Cosby had been accused by various women of actions which the women claimed (rightly or wrongly) were bad.

Without getting into any value judgements on the sexual accusations however, I thought one case was really intriguing:

(this is from further down in the story)

"Green first told her story in 2005 on the "Today" show and in the Philadelphia Inquirer, and starting in the fall of 2014 she told it to multiple media outlets. Each time, she asserted in the lawsuit, Cosby, through his lawyers or his publicist, denied her allegations, defaming her by declaring them "absolutely false."

In effect, Green asserted in the suit, every time Cosby through his representatives said he didn't do it, he was defaming her. "Thus, by innuendo and effect, Defendant Cosby publicly branded Plaintiff Green a liar," the lawsuit said. "

--

So what it sounds like to me, is it now very nearly the case, that a woman can accuse a man of impropriety, then when he denies it, SUE the guy for defaming her?

Did I understand that correctly?

Wow. If I did.

Wow.

[cba123]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/bill-cosby-i-didnt-settle-defamation-lawsuit-and-im-not-paying-but-my-insurer-will/ar-BBVFcrU?ocid=spartandhp

[morphing libertarian]

My interpretations is the claims get you into court where you have to show facts or evidence to prove your claim. The defendant while innocent till proven guilty cannot prove a negative unless has an alibi.

[Gay State Conservative]

I think I recall once having read that there was a time when "umbrella" policies would pay damages to others for certain criminal acts committed by the policyholder.

If that was,in fact,the case it was stupid beyond belief.

[DeFault User]

Liability policies will cover defamation and slander but obviously not sexual assault or rape. She has some smart attorneys.

[TBP]

This is where we are today.

[billorites]

Dead man walking.

[treetopsandroofs]

The Cosby Show is still on TV all the time.

[Delta 21]

Good thing he bought the anti-defamation rider on his Rape Insurance?

[nathanbedford]

So what it sounds like to me, is it now very nearly the case, that a woman can accuse a man of impropriety, then when he denies it, SUE the guy for defaming her?

Here is another interesting question, suppose the matter proceeds to the discovery phase of a lawsuit and the criminal defendant must then choose in the civil case whether to open himself to questioning or decline to answer damaging questions on the grounds it might incriminate him. Can the plaintiff in the civil case have use of that?

[Lurking Libertarian]

Here is another interesting question, suppose the matter proceeds to the discovery phase of a lawsuit and the criminal defendant must then choose in the civil case whether to open himself to questioning or decline to answer damaging questions on the grounds it might incriminate him. Can the plaintiff in the civil case have use of that?

The rule in federal court, and in most but not all states, is that if a defendant in a civil case takes the 5th Amendment, the jury can be told that fact, and can be instructed that it may draw an adverse inference from that invocation of the 5th Amendment. The theory being that the 5th Amendment protects you from being compelled to incriminate yourself, but doesn't protect you from civil damages.