Canyon Lake Woman's Sexual Assault Case Against Bill Cosby

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Despite the overturning of Bill Cosby's sexual assault sentence this summer by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, a Canyon Lake woman's case against the comedian is pushing forward, her attorney Gloria Allred announced Thursday via an online news conference.

"We look forward to continue battling for our very brave client," Allred told reporters. Attorneys Nathan Goldberg and Jonathan West are working on the case with Allred.

The legal team was in court Friday on behalf of Judy Huth, who contends she and a friend met Cosby in 1974 when they walked to the set of a film being shot in San Marino. Huth, who was 15 at the time, and her friend, who was 16, spoke to the actor and he invited them to his tennis club the following Saturday, according to the lawsuit.

When the girls went to the club, Cosby directed them to follow him to a house, where he gave them alcohol and they played billiards. He then led them to another house, which turned out to be the Playboy Mansion, according to the lawsuit.

At some point, Huth told Cosby she needed to use the bathroom, according to the lawsuit.

"Cosby directed her to a bathroom within a bedroom suite near the game room," the lawsuit states. "When plaintiff emerged from the bathroom, she found Cosby sitting on the bed. He asked her to sit beside him. He then proceeded to sexually molest her by attempting to put his hand down her pants, and then taking her hand in his hand and performing a sex act on himself without her consent."

Huth contends she has suffered "psychological damage and mental anguish" throughout her life, but only recently discovered the problems were "caused by the sexual abuse perpetrated by Cosby."

The lawsuit, which was filed in 2014, alleges sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The complaint seeks unspecified damages.

Huth did not appear during Friday's news conference.

Allred's team explained Friday that a trial date in the case has been set for April 18, 2022, and attorneys from both sides will appear prior, on Sept. 30, to hammer out how to proceed.

Two legal matters in the case are pending, however.

According to Allred, Cosby has appeared for one deposition in the case, and a second one was approved by a judge. Cosby's new attorneys, however, are fighting against a second deposition appearance, according to Allred.

Additionally, Cosby's legal team is challenging the constitutionality of a recent California law that, if overturned, would impact Huth's case, according to Allred.

On Oct. 13, 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 218 into law. It allows victims who are under 40 years old to file a lawsuit for childhood sexual assault, regardless of when the alleged crime happened. Anyone who is 40 or older must meet certain certifications under the law.

Cosby's team is attempting to get the AB 218 overturned, according to Allred. That lengthy process would require an act by the California State Supreme Court.

Another potential delay is whether prosecutors in Pennsylvania will challenge that state's Supreme Court decision to overturn Cosby's sentence. Prosecutors have until Sept. 28 to file a petition, according to Allred and her colleagues.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Cosby's sexual assault sentence. Cosby, who is now 84, was released from prison June 30. He had been sentenced to three to 10 years behind bars in 2018 after being convicted of drugging and sexually abusing Andrea Constand inside his Cheltenham home in 2004.

In their 2021 decision, the Pennsylvania justices ruled Cosby could not be charged due to an immunity agreement he had in place.

In the majority opinion filed in Pennsylvania, the state Supreme Court acknowledged the "strong interest" of society in holding the powerful to account, while explaining why they thought Cosby must be released.

"It is also true that no such interest, however important, ever can eclipse society's interest in ensuring that the constitutional rights of the people are vindicated," the opinion read. "Society's interest in prosecution does not displace the remedy due to constitutionally aggrieved persons."

Cosby had been booked in Montgomery County's SCI Phoenix for more than two and a half years. His legal team pursued every avenue to secure his release, and all the while Cosby had refused to admit guilt, citing everything from the coronavirus pandemic to institutional racism as the reasons for his incarceration.

"I have always maintained my innocence," Cosby said following his release this summer. "Thank you to all my fans, supporters and friends who stood by me through this ordeal. Special thanks to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law."

Read the full Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision here.