A longtime accuser of Bill Cosby, Lili Bernard, has filed a civil lawsuit against the comedian claiming Cosby raped her at the Trump Taj Mahal in 1990. The case was filed on Oct. 14 and is asking for $125 million for punitive damages.
Bernard was an aspiring actress being mentored by Cosby in the summer of 1990 after meeting him on the set of The Cosby Show.
Cosby coached the young actress by teaching her theatrical exercises and vocal techniques. He told Bernard to look at him as a father figure and gave her career advice. Bernard alleges that Cosby grabbed her breasts after touching her diagram for a breathing exercise during one vocal training session.
“Mr. Cosby grabbed Ms. Bernard’s ribcage and diaphragm without her permission under the guise that he was teaching her how to breathe,” the lawsuit claims. “And then suddenly, violently, and without permission grabbed and squeezed Ms. Bernard’s breasts.”
“Mr. Bernard awoke again to find Mr. Cosby naked atop her, vaginally raping her with his penis. Ms. Bernard lost consciousness again.”
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Cosby, 84, and his lawyers released a statement denying the rape claims. They said Bernard had offered no proof or evidence to back her claims. They also accused Bernard of trying to “abuse the legal process” and said they would fight any allegations to the highest court if need be. They also noted that the prosecutor terminated an investigation against Cosby regarding Bernard’s claim back in 2015.
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Bernard said that she has been waiting a long time to pursue a court case against Cosby and that she wants to hold him accountable for the alleged rape.
“I have waited a long time to be able to pursue my case in court and I look forward to being heard and to hold Cosby accountable for what he did to me,” she said. “Although it occurred long ago, I still live with the fear, pain and shame every day of my life.”
Cosby was convicted of assaulting another woman he mentored from Temple University back in 2018, and he spent more than two years in prison. His conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in June, and Cosby was released.
