Bill Cosby sues 7 of his accusers

The actor and Comedian Bill Cosby counterclaim filed on Monday at Court in Springfield, Massachusetts, against seven women, who accuse him of rape.

The suit states that Cosby is seeking “relief from the defendants’ intentional campaign to assassinate his character for their own financial gain by awarding him compensatory and punitive damages to the maximum extent permitted by the law…” The counterclaims say they were “willfully, maliciously and falsely accusing” Cosby of the sexual crimes, and that the whole thing is basically a way to rake him for his money.

The women suing Cosby in MA are among approximately 50 who have accused the comedian of rape or unwanted sexual contact.

His lawyers say that his reputation and career have been damaged by the women, noting that they filed their defamation lawsuit against Cosby at a time when he was set to return to television in a new NBC series.

Green, who in 2006 told People magazine that Cosby drugged and groped her, filed a defamation suit against Cosby last December.

Joe Cammarata, who is representing the women in the case, said the suit was no shock. He added that his clients are eager “to have their day in court”, and stated “they each expect that their good name and reputation will be restored”.

Dozens of women have accused Cosby of sexual misconduct.

Cosby’s lawyers or representative denied the accusations in the media. She said that she does not think that Cosby’s tactics will “deter courageous women from fighting the battle against him”. Indeed, anyone would be angry about someone “engaging in a campaign to assassinate” their character, and its understandable that someone would want to get compensation if someone else ruined a job prospect. However, the accusers say Mr Cosby – over a period of decades – plied them with alcohol, drugged them and sexually assaulted them. More accusers came forward.