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Victims' suit against Bill Cosby stays alive as comedian serves prison sentence in

Pennsylvania

SPRINGFIELD -- U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni Thursday told


lawyers for both Bill Cosby and for the seven women who say he sexually
abused him and have sued Cosby that their four-year-old lawsuit should
start moving again.
Mastroianni said he wants a status report March 18 with a plan to get the
case, which has languished due to Cosby's criminal trial and conviction in
Pennsylvania, progressing toward a conclusion.
Cosby is in a Pennsylvania prison now. In April 2018, Cosby was convicted on
three counts of aggravated indecent assault for assaulting or sexually assaulting Andrea
Constand. Cosby has been sentenced to three to 10 years in prison.

Mastroianni instructions came following a 10-minute private sidebar with


lawyers including Joseph Cammarata of Washington for the women and
Sarah Kelly-Kilgore of Los Angeles representing Cosby.
In a written status report dated Jan. 25, 2019, the two legal teams told
Mastroiani that the women plaintiffs in the case and Cosby's insurer
participated private mediation Jan. 11.

Mastroiani has placed a stay on this civil case, delaying the discovery
process of demanding documents and depositions -- that is questioning
Cosby and others under oath -- while the appeals process of his
Pennsylvania criminal case plays out.
Cosby has a Fifth Amendment right to avoid being a witness against
himself in a criminal case.
More than 50 women have accused Cosby, once the star of the most
popular show on television and considered "America's Dad" of sexual
abuse in cases going back decades.
Seven of them -- Bowman, Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, Linda Traitz, Louisa Moritz,
Joan Tarshis and Angela Leslie -- sued Cosby in federal court in Springfield for defamation
after they went public. Cosby's legal team said they were lying.
The women couldn't sue for the claims of abuse itself because statute of limitations had
expired. But the defamation claim was new.

I a case also argued here in Springfield, federal courts have ordered insurer AIG to
pay for Cosby's defense under the terms of his homeowners policy and the and the
excess liability or "umbrella policy" the comedian bought for his Cosby's Shelburne Falls
estate.

AIG sued Cosby saying it shouldn't be on the hook for claims resulting from sexual abuse.

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