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Bill Cosby Refutes Defamation Suit Settlement

Seven women suing Bill Cosby reached a settlement in their defamation case against him. The details have not been disclosed, but Cosby and his team say the settlement was made by his insurance company, without his knowledge or consent. He still maintains his innocence and plans to pursue his countersuit against the women. Settlement Reached […]

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4 years ago

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  • Seven women suing Bill Cosby reached a settlement in their defamation case against him.
  • The details have not been disclosed, but Cosby and his team say the settlement was made by his insurance company, without his knowledge or consent.
  • He still maintains his innocence and plans to pursue his countersuit against the women.

Settlement Reached

A settlement has been reached in a defamation case against Bill Cosby, but Cosby and his team say the agreement was made without his knowledge.

The original lawsuit was filed in 2014, by seven women who said they were defamed by Cosby when he publically denied their allegations of sexual misconduct. The women are Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, Linda Traitz, Louisa Moritz, Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis, and Angela Leslie.

Court documents filed on Friday in the western division of the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts showed that the lawsuit had been settled. Joseph Cammarata, who represents the seven women, did not release details about the agreement, but he did tell the Associated Press that each of his clients “is satisfied with the settlement.”

The deal still awaits a judge’s approval.

Cosby’s Team Responds

Cosby’s spokesperson Andrew Wyatt confirmed that a settlement was reached, but says that the insurance company, AIG, reached the settlement without Cosby’s knowledge or consent.

“Mr. Cosby did not settle any cases with anyone,” Wyatt said in a statement. “He is not paying anything to anyone…Mr. Cosby vehemently denies the allegations brought against him in these defamation suits and he maintains his innocence.”

Cosby also released a statement saying, “AIG showed that they’re a part of the corruption against me, by paying off these distractors, without my knowledge, without my permission and without my consent.”

“AIG’s egregious behavior will be frowned upon by their many customers,” he continued. “They have proven that they do not have the best interest of their clients in mind, which will cause them to lose an overwhelming amount of business.”

The comedian responded to the seven women with a countersuit in 2015, claiming defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and loss of business. In his recent statement, he said he would continue to pursue that claim.

“I, [Bill Cosby], will never settle any defamation claim, I will continue to pursue my counterclaims, and I will not relinquish AIG from its responsibility in defending my defamation claims. That’s why I paid my premiums on time and I never let my policy lapse. AIG’s settlement of these claims in Massachusetts makes them look corrupt and it exposes my innocence.”

AIG’s Response

The insurance company is involved in this case because it was obligated to pay for legal services in defamation cases for Cosby under the provisions of his homeowner’s policy.  

A.I.G. tried to deny him coverage, arguing in court that it was not compelled to cover claims relating to sexual misconduct. However, judges in Massachusetts and California ultimately sided with Cosby.

An AIG spokesperson said the company could not comment on a specific case but said that they do not necessarily need a client’s permission to settle a case. “Certain insurance policies provide insurers with the authority to resolve claims when the insured has been informed.”

More Legal Battles

The settlement ends one of many legal battles involving Cosby. The comedian, who is now 81-years old, has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 60 women over the span of decades.

In September 2018, Cosby was found guilty of thee counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand in 2004.

He is currently serving a three to 10-year prison sentence and will also be required to register as a sexual predator for the rest of his life. However, he is appealing his conviction and maintains his innocence in all allegations of sexual assault.

His legal battles won’t end here. Chloe Goins, a model who says Cosby drugged and assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 2008, has filed a sexual battery complaint against him. Cosby also faces a possible trial related to assault claims made by a woman named Judy Huth, who says he sexually assaulted her when he was a minor.

On top of that, he faces another defamation lawsuit filed by former model Janice Dickinson. Dickinson appeared at Cosby’s trial last April, where she claimed that he drugged and sexually assaulted her at a Nevada hotel in 1982.

See what others are saying: (Deadline) (The Wrap) (The Washington Post)

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Kathy Griffin, Ethan Klein, More Suspended From Twitter Over Elon Musk Impersonations

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3 weeks ago

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November 7, 2022

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Many have pretended to be Musk in an attempt to highlight the potential issues paid-for verifications could cause on the platform.

Musk Takes on Impersonations

Comedian Kathy Griffin and internet personality Ethan Klein are among the many Twitter users that have been permanently suspended for impersonating the platform’s new CEO, Elon Musk.

Impersonation has long been against Twitter’s rules, but on Sunday, the billionaire took the policy a step further by announcing that “any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended.”

“Previously, we issued a warning before suspension, but now that we are rolling out widespread verification, there will be no warning,” Musk explained. “This will be clearly identified as a condition for signing up to Twitter Blue.”

Musk also said that any user who changes their name will temporarily lose their verification check mark. 

The announcement came as many verified users began mocking Musk by changing their name and photo to match his, then tweeting jokes that were either absurd or out of character for the business mogul. Many did this to protest Musk’s plan to charge an $8 monthly subscription fee that would allow any Twitter user to become verified. 

Klein was one of many who changed his name to “Elon Musk” and made a photo of the CEO his profile image. The podcast host sent out several jokes, including one referencing the increased use of the N-word on the platform since Musk’s takeover, and another referencing Jeffrey Epstein.

“Even though Jeffrey Epstein committed horrible crimes, I do still miss him on nights like this for his warmth and camaraderie. Rest In Peace old Friend,” he wrote. 

His account was quickly banned, but Klein defended himself on TikTok, arguing that both his cover photo and bio labeled his account as “parody” and therefore should be acceptable under Musk’s guidelines. 

“What more do you want from me?” he asked. “Comedy is dead. And Elon Musk dug the grave.” 

Protests of Musk’s Twitter Control

For her part, Griffin likewise tweeted while masquerading as Musk, writing that after “spirited discussion with the females in my life, I’ve decided that voting blue for their choice is only right.”

Musk joked that she was actually “suspended for impersonating a comedian” and added that she can have her account back if she pays for the $8 subscription. Griffin, however, found another way around the ban.

The comedian logged into her late mother’s Twitter account and began using the hashtag #FreeKathy while calling out Musk. 

“Mad Men” actor Rich Sommer and podcaster Griffin Newman have also had their accounts suspended for tweeting as Musk. Other celebrities, including TV producer Shonda Rhimes, musician Sara Bareilles, and model Gigi Hadid have protested Musk’s Twitter reign by leaving the platform altogether.

“For a long time, but especially with its new leadership, it’s becoming more and more of a cesspool of hate & bigotry, and it’s not a place I want to be a part of,” Hadid wrote on Instagram over the weekend. 

See what others are saying: (NBC News) (Variety) (The Verge)

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AOC Says Twitter Notifications “Conveniently” Disabled After Criticizing Musk

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4 weeks ago

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November 3, 2022

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“What’s good? Doesn’t seem very free speechy to me,” she tweeted at the new CEO.

AOC Vs. Elon Musk

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said several of her Twitter features are “conveniently not working” after feuding with the platform’s new owner, billionaire Elon Musk.

Ocasio-Cortez has never been shy about her views on Musk. After he officially took charge of Twitter last week, the congresswoman began criticizing his new proposals for the social networking site, specifically his plan to charge an $8 subscription fee for verification. 

“Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that ‘free speech’ is actually a $8/mo subscription plan,” she wrote on Tuesday.

“Your feedback is appreciated, now pay $8,” Musk replied the following day.

Around an hour later, the business mogul sent another tweet appearing to call Ocasio-Cortez out for selling $58 sweatshirts. 

“Proud of this and always will be,” she shot back. “My workers are union, make a living wage, have full healthcare, and aren’t subject to racist treatment in their workplaces. Items are made in USA. Team AOC honors and respects working people. You should try it sometime instead of union-busting.”

In a follow-up tweet, she noted that proceeds go to community organizing programs, including one that tutors students who are falling behind because of COVID-19.

AOC’s Mentions Not Working

On Wednesday evening, just hours after her back-and-forth with Musk, Ocasio-Cortez told her followers that her “Twitter mentions/notifications conveniently aren’t working tonight.”

“I was informed via text that I seem to have gotten under a certain billionaire’s skin,” she added. “Just a reminder that money will never [buy] your way out of insecurity, folks.” 

The issue seemingly continued into Thursday morning when the Democrat tweeted a screenshot of her notifications page, which loaded no results. 

“Why should people pay $8 just for their app to get bricked when they say something you don’t like?” she tweeted at Musk. “This is what my app has looked like ever since my tweet upset you yesterday. What’s good? Doesn’t seem very free speechy to me.”

Musk has repeatedly claimed that one of his primary motives to buy Twitter was to protect free speech. Once taking the reigns as CEO, though, he did say he would start a content moderation council and make decisions jointly with them.

See what others are saying: (The Hill) (Insider)

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South Carolina County Votes Against Moving LGBTQ+ Friendly Books Away from Children’s Section

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4 weeks ago

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November 3, 2022

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Efforts to limit LGBTQ+ content in libraries first began over the summer.

Attempts to Restrict LGBTQ+ Displays

The county council in Greenville County, South Carolina this week voted against discussing a resolution that would move all books “promoting sexuality” to the adult section.

This resolution is the culmination of months of turmoil in Greenville County. In June, libraries in the county removed Pride displays at the direction of library officials. Then in September, the county’s Republican Party executive board passed a resolution to call on the County Council to restrict access to books with LGBTQ+ themes and characters. 

The resolution was proposed by Joe Dill, an outgoing council member, as well as a member of the county’s Republican Party executive board. It proposed the council “officially order that no books or content, including digital copies or online accessible materials, promoting sexuality be allowed in the Children’s Sections of our public libraries.” 

Resolution Rejected

However, the resolution required the council to suspend its regular rules in order to discuss it as it was not submitted to the council via committee. The final vote was 9 to 3 against the suspension of the rules and effectively killed the resolution. 

Those that voted against it viewed the resolution as an overreach.

“We just do not believe that’s our job to get involved in the library’s business,” Council member Ennis Fett said to a local news outlet. “We appoint a board. We can not set a precedent of micromanaging the library board, because if we do that, then, we will be micromanaging all boards and commissions that we appoint.” 

Although the council decided not to get involved, the library still has the final decision to make regarding these books. Their meeting to discuss the matter is scheduled for December 5. 

See what others are saying: (Greenville News) (The Post and Courier) (7 News)

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