Victoria Valentino, a former Playboy model, is finally taking Bill Cosby to court almost a decade after accusing him of drugging and raping her. The civil lawsuit for sexual assault and sexual battery was filed in LA Superior Court over the alleged 1969 attack. The suit describes how Cosby used his power and authority to sexually assault Valentino, causing her severe emotional, physical, and psychological distress. Seeking a variety of damages, Valentino’s lawyers were able to file the suit against Cosby, his agents, assistants, and others under a recent California law that lifted the statute of limitations on civil sex assault cases.
Valentino’s suit goes into detail about what happened after she and a friend took some pills provided by Cosby and the trio went to his LA office to “show them his awards” in late 1969. Cosby has faced similar allegations from over 60 women who claim he drugged and assaulted them with a similar combo of pills and alcohol.
Cosby’s representatives pushed back hard on Valentino’s suit, but the former comedian has already been sentenced to up to 10 years behind bars for the rape of Andrea Constand. Although his conviction was tossed out in June 2021, Cosby cannot be retried on the same charges.
Valentino hopes that her lawsuit will serve as her legacy to her family and show other survivors that hope and healing are possible.