Bill Cosby’s team ‘cheered’ when a Los Angeles jury decided he must pay Judy Huth, who he sexually assaulted when she was just a teenager back in 1975, $500,000 in damages.
Huth, now 64, was awarded the sum in LA on Tuesday (21 June) and Cosby was said to be ‘happy’ that he didn’t have to pay Huth punitive legal bills.
Jurors decided that Cosby’s conduct was driven by unnatural or abnormal sexual interest in a minor and that he caused harmful sexual contact with Huth during the incident, which took place at the Playboy Mansion.
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According to the MailOnline, Cosby’s publicist Andrew Wyatt revealed he directed a celebratory ‘booyah!’ Cosby’s way when telling him the news.
When told he had to pay Huth $500,000 (£407,000), Cosby reportedly said to Wyatt: “What? That's all?”
Wyatt told the outlet: “[Cosby] said, ‘That's a victory, not having to pay Huth punitive legal bills’. He was happy that no punitive [damages] were awarded.”
UNILAD has approached Wyatt for comment.
Huth testified to the trial that Cosby, now 84, had forced her to perform a sex act on him when she was just 16.
The jury’s decision marks the closure of one of the final outstanding legal claims against Cosby, who has faced accusations of sexual assault from more than 50 women spanning almost five decades.
Cosby wasn’t present at the trial and denied the allegation, saying in a video deposition that he did not remember Huth and that the incident couldn’t have possibly taken place because he wouldn't have pursued sexual contact with someone under 18.
Wyatt also confirmed Cosby intends to appeal the jury’s decisions, but still called it a ‘win’ for the actor.
He said in a statement according to The Guardian: “This is a huge victory and the Cosbys are so happy with the representation of Jennifer Bonjean. Allred [Huth’s lawyer] was trying to get $8 million. They did not get punitive damages. That is a huge win.”
Huth’s lawyer, Gloria Allred, said: “We are honoured to represent her. I want to thank all of the women who spoke out over the years, and refused to be silent in the face of what they believed to be injustice and sexual abuse by powerful men … We are proud of Ms Huth and our victory against Bill Cosby.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivor’s Trust for free on 08088 010 818, or through their website thesurvivorstrust.org
Topics: Bill Cosby
Aisha Nozari