ABOVE PHOTO: Bill Cosby (Photo: Randy Miramontez / shutterstock)
By Denise Lavoie
associated press
BOSTON– Lawyers for Bill Cosby said Friday they will fight an attempt to require his wife to give a sworn deposition in a defamation lawsuit filed by seven women who accuse the comedian of sexually assaulting them decades ago.
A lawyer for the women has subpoenaed Camille Cosby to be deposed on Jan. 6. at a hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts.
But Cosby’s lawyers filed a motion Friday to quash the subpoena, saying she has no firsthand, non-repetitive knowledge of issues in the lawsuit. They also argue that any confidential communications between Cosby and his wife are protected by the Massachusetts spousal disqualification rule.
The women’s lawyer, Joseph Cammarata, had argued that he should be able to question Camille Cosby because she was her husband’s business manager.
“I think she has information that’s relevant to the litigation in this matter,” Cammarata said Friday.
Cosby’s lawyers said Camille Cosby does not have any information about the accuracy of the women’s allegations. They also allege that the attempt to subject her to a deposition is “nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to pressure defendant in the face of subjecting his wife to the shame and embarrassment of responding to questions about his alleged infidelities and sexual misconduct.”
The seven women suing Cosby for defamation in federal court in Springfield are among approximately 50 women who have come forward over the last year alleging that he sexually assaulted or had unwanted sexual contact with them decades ago. They claim in their suit that Cosby allowed his representatives to portray them as liars after they went public with their allegations.
Cosby, 78, filed a countersuit against the women earlier this week, accusing them of making false allegations of sexual misconduct for financial gain. He said the women have “engaged in a campaign to assassinate” his reputation and character.
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