More women to join suit against Cosby

Associated Press

BOSTON

Four more women are planning to join a federal lawsuit against Bill Cosby, claiming the comedian sexually abused them and later defamed them by letting his representatives publicly label their stories lies.

Joining the three already named women in the suit are Barbara Bowman, who alleges Cosby won her trust when she was a 17-year-old aspiring actress in 1985, then sexually assaulted her multiple times; Joan Tarshis, who alleges Cosby drugged and assaulted her in 1969, when she was 19; Louisa Moritz, an actress who alleges Cosby sexually assaulted her in a dressing room for “The Tonight Show” in 1969; and Angela Leslie, who claims Cosby assaulted her while she met with him in his Las Vegas suite in 1992

Joseph Cammarata, who represents the women, said all seven believe Cosby defamed them when his representatives issued public statements in 2014 denouncing their stories as absurd and untrue.

“These people were held up to public ridicule and a character assassination when they came forward to tell their story of abuse or assault at the hands of Mr. Cosby,” Cammarata said.

The women are among dozens who have alleged Cosby, now 78, molested them decades ago.