Victoria Valentino, a former Playboy model, just filed a lawsuit against actor Bill Cosby in the Los Angeles Superior Court, taking advantage of California’s temporary suspension of the statute of limitations for civil cases regarding sexual assault to sue him. In the suit, Valentino alleges that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1969.
“This case is about a prominent actor and comedian who used his notoriety and status to sexually assault an up-and-coming young female artist. Defendant William “Bill” Cosby utilized his power and authority over Plaintiff to sexual assault Plaintiff. Plaintiff has suffered severe emotional, physical, and psychological distress because of the sexual assault. Plaintiff brings this action to hold Defendant Cosby accountable for the harm he has caused her,” the suit begins.
The lawsuit, making factual allegations, states that Valentino and Cosby met when, in 1969, “Plaintiff auditioned for an acting role for her professional advancement and met Cosby inside his studio trailer in Los Angeles, California.”
Cosby and the plaintiff then allegedly met again when, while she was mourning her deceased young son, Cosby attempted to comfort her by offering to pay for her and her friend to get a massage and steam bath. He then, the lawsuit alleges, treated them to dinner after the steam bath and, during that dinner, gave her a pill and pretended to take one himself.
Continuing, the suit claims that the pill made Valentino nauseous and she asked to go home. It then, providing graphic details, alleges that Cosby sexually assaulted the plaintiff when she attempted to stop Cosby from sexually assaulting her unconscious friend.
The lawsuit goes on to claim that “In a 2005 deposition, Cosby admitted that he used quaaludes on young women that he wanted to have sex with” and “Cosby engaged in a similar pattern of conduct with his victims, including expressing interest in advancing their careers.”
Though the suit was only filed now because of statute of limitations issues, Valentino went public with her story of being sexually assaulted by Cosby in 2014. Describing, in a separate statement, how the alleged assault injured her, said, “Bill Cosby exploited me when I was at my lowest point and was consumed by grief. Not only did he assault me, but the trauma caused my career in the performing arts to completely derail.”
"*" indicates required fields
Cosby’s representatives pushed back on Valentino’s allegations. Andrew Wyatt, speaking on Cosby’s behalf, said, “Victoria Valentino has skirted from town to town promoting her alleged allegations against Mr. Cosby to anyone that would give her platform, without any proof or facts.”
Continuing, Wyatt then added, “It’s unfortunate that media has not vetted the inconsistencies in her many statements. However, it’s more deeply disturbing and disappointing that our lawmakers would push forward these ‘Look Back Windows’, which are a sheer violation of all American’s Constitutional Rights. Statutes of Limitations reside in The Constitution, in order to protect those who are victims of a crime and to protect those that are accused of a crime.”