Cosby's lawyers to seek dismissal
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — A federal judge is set to hear arguments today on comedian Bill Cosby’s request to have dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by three women accusing him of decades-old sex crimes.
Lawyers for Tamara Green, Therese Serignese and Linda Traitz say the women’s reputations were tarnished when representatives for Cosby strongly denied their allegations as they became public in recent years.
But Cosby’s lawyers, in court filings, counter that the “Cosby Show” star was merely acting in “self-defense” because his character was under attack. They say some of the comments made by his representatives are personal opinions protected by the Constitution while other statements are so old they exceed the statute of limitations.
The women’s lawyers plan to argue the “self-defense” argument does not apply when a person knows his accusers are telling the truth.
The three women are among more than two dozen who have accused Cosby of incidents of sexual misconduct, some dating back more than four decades. Cosby has not been charged with any crime.
