Bill Cosby has reached a settlement in a defamation lawsuit in which seven women say the embattled comedian and actor slandered their names after they accused him of sexual assault.
In 2014, the women had filed a federal lawsuit against Cosby alleging he spoke publicly about them and accused them of lying in their sexual abuse claims. In 2015, Cosby filed a countersuit against the women saying they had slandered his name and character on purpose to ax a television opportunity, reported NBC News.
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The attorney representing the women, Joseph Cammarata, has said that they are satisfied with the settlement,” according to NBC News, which cites court papers filed in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts.
However, Cosby, 81, says he didn’t settle anything. In a statement posted to his Twitter and Instagram pages, Cosby said he didn’t settle but rather the AIG insurance firm without his “knowledge, permission and/or consent.”
“He is not paying anything to anyone, and he is still pursuing his counterclaims,” NBC News reports the statement read. “Cosby vehemently denies the allegations brought against him in these defamation suits and he maintains his innocence.”
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The settlement terms were undisclosed.
But Cammarata said he will be filing court papers asking a judge to throw out Cosby’s countersuit.
NBC said lawyers for Cosby and AIG did not respond to a request for comment.
Last September, Cosby was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand. During his trial, Constand testified that Cosby sexually assaulted her in 2004 at his home in Pennsylvania.
Additionally, roughly 60 women have accused Cosby of sexually assaulting them, however many of their claims proved to be outside of the window to prosecute.
For his part, Cosby maintains his innocence and refers to himself as a “political prisoner” like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
——For Immediate Release——
Mr. Cosby did not settle any cases with anyone. He is not paying anything to anyone, and he is still pursuing his counterclaims. AIG decided to settle these cases, without the knowledge, permission and/or consent of Mr. Cosby.— Bill Cosby (@BillCosby) April 5, 2019
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