LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — A judge has ruled that Bill Cosby and his former lawyer can be deposed in a defamation lawsuit filed against Mr. Cosby by former supermodel Janice Dickinson.
Judge Debre K. Weintraub of Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled on Monday that Cosby and lawyer, Martin D. Singer, should be deposed for the lawsuit before Nov. 25th, according to the New York Times.
Last November, Dickinson accused Cosby of drugging and raping her in Lake Taho, California in 1982 but was unable to sue due to the statute of limitations. However, Cosby characterized Dickison's statements about the 1982 incidents as false and Dickinson sued Cosby for defamation in May for branding her a liar in the press.
In the lawsuit, Ms. Dickinson cited statements allegedly made by Cosby through his lawyer at the time, Martin Singer, claiming that Dickinson's accusations against him were “false and outlandish” and “a lie.”
A rep for Cosby has said they plan to appeal the judges deposition order.
“The court’s unfortunate but not surprising ruling permitting a limited deposition of Mr. Cosby regarding the statements of his former attorney Martin Singer was legally incorrect and deprives Mr. Cosby of a right well-settled under California law to have his motion to strike heard before unnecessary, expensive and burdensome discovery,” she said, according to The Times. “It is disturbing that Mr. Cosby is not receiving the same protections as every other defense litigant in California. We intend to appeal the court’s decision.”
Cosby in the past year has faced numerous allegations of sexual assault, but he has denied wrongdoing in each case and has not been charged with a crime. – Staff Writers
