Despite non sequitur tweets from Kanye West, Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case is still moving forward. The comedian was arrested back in December over aggravated indecent assault felony charges, and the internet had a field day with his mugshot and perp walk. But where are we with the proceedings?
On Tuesday, an L.A. Superior Court judge dropped Janice Dickinson’s defamation suit against Cosby’s former lawyer. Dickinson had accused Cosby of raping her in 1982, resulting in Cosby’s lawyer, Marty Singer, calling her a liar. Dickinson sued them both. And while the complaint against Singer has been dropped, the rape and defamation suit against Cosby is still very much in play.
In addition to the criminal assault case, Dickinson’s claim is among the total of eight active defamation cases filed against Cosby, including that of Andrea Constand, the woman on whom Cosby’s criminal allegations focuses. She says he drugged and raped her in 2004, while he maintains that the encounter was consensual.
Last week, a Montgomery County judge rejected Cosby’s motion to squash Constand’s charges, a dismissal which was sought after on arguably sketchy grounds. With the proceedings currently on track, the case moves closer to a full trial.
The comedian could face 10 years in prison if found guilty.