A woman who accused actor and comedian Bill Cosby of sexual assault more than 50 years ago was awarded more than $19 million Monday by a Santa Monica jury in her lawsuit.
Jurors reached the verdict on the third day of deliberations. The panel also determined that Motsinger is due punitive damages, but that amount was to be determined later Monday, according to attorneys for the plaintiff.
Punitive damages are typically awarded at the court's discretion and not available in all cases. They usually are awarded as a punishment for harmful conduct.
In her sexual battery lawsuit against the 88-year-old Cosby, Donna Motsinger argued that he made daily visits for several days to the restaurant where she worked as a server in 1972. Motsinger, who had served Cosby at his table, claimed he followed her to her home in Mill Valley, just north of San Francisco, pulled up next to her and asked if she'd like to see one of his shows in San Carlos, according to the civil case complaint.
