A Baldwin Borough woman who claims she was assaulted by comedian Bill Cosby is fighting his efforts to get her lawsuit against him dismissed.
Renita Hill, 48, sued Mr. Cosby in October in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, saying that statements issued by the entertainer, his wife and his lawyer denying that he molested anyone defamed her.
Ms. Hill says she was one of his victims 30 years ago, when she was an aspiring model and actress.
In her suit, which was moved to federal court this month, Ms. Hill says Mr. Cosby’s denials portrayed her as a liar out to extort the wealthy comedian.
Mr. Cosby last week asked U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab to dismiss the case, claiming that his denials are “opinions” protected under the First Amendment and not defamatory.
Ms. Hill’s lawyers said in response Tuesday that three statements — all made after Ms. Hill raised her assault allegations against Mr. Cosby in a KDKA interview in Nov. 20, 2014 — implied that Ms. Hill and other female accusers are driven by greed.
Ms. Hill said the statements aren’t protected because they all contain a “common thread of relying on undisclosed, defamatory facts” implying some kind of investigation occurred, but don't provide evidence.
“The thrust of Cosby’s opinion is that [Ms. Hill] is an extortionist and a liar, but he does not come out and explicitly provide any factual support,” her lawyers said. “Thus, he is relying on undisclosed, defamatory facts and innuendos.”
Mr. Cosby also argued that his denials have not defamed Ms. Hill, but her lawyers said they have because they are capable of harming her reputation in the community.
“He [Cosby] indicates that the statements made were opinions, and as opinions are protected from any legal consequences,” Ms. Hill’s lawyers said. “This reasoning allows him to lie about anyone who truthfully accuses him of misconduct.”
Ms. Hill said she made her allegations against Mr. Cosby in 2014 because she felt emboldened by other women who had come forward with similar stories.
She said Mr. Cosby drugged her and had sex with her after they met on an educational TV show in the early 1980s when she was 16.
She said that for four years, he flew her around the country to cities where he was performing so he could have sex with her in hotel rooms.
Torsten Ove: tove@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1504.
First Published: December 29, 2015, 7:24 p.m.
Updated: December 30, 2015, 5:41 a.m.
