Bill Cosby says AIG lawsuit is “draining” his resources and helping his accusers

The entertainer is seeking dismissal of the case on the grounds that he cannot fight a four-front legal battle, including the suit from his homeowners insurer

Insurance News

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A lawsuit filed against Bill Cosby by American International Group is “draining” to the entertainer’s resources and seriously undermines his chances of successfully defending himself against sexual abuse allegations, Cosby’s lawyers said Tuesday.

In an attempt to dismiss or put a hold on the AIG lawsuit, Cosby told a Massachusetts federal court in that he would face “substantial prejudice” by being forced to defend simultaneously against the insurer and the several women who accuse him of sexual misconduct.

The lawsuit, which was filed by the insurer in June, relates to homeowner’s insurance policies AIG issued to Cosby in Massachusetts and California. While the policies provide coverage for personal injury claims, including defamation, they do not cover personal injury claims arising from “sexual, physical or mental abuse.”

Cosby is currently defending against defamation suits brought by model Janice Dickinson in California, and Tamara Green, Therese Serignese and Linda Traitz in Massachussets. Because these suits were the result of denials by the entertainer that he had sexually abused the defendants, AIG says it is not bound to cover him.

Though the company has tentatively agreed to pick up Cosby’s defense costs, the insurer is seeking declaratory relief that it is not responsible.

Cosby’s defense attorneys are now hoping to have the case either dismissed or postponed as he deals with the financial and legal fallout from the accusations.

“Forcing Mr. Cosby to fight a four-front battle would demonstrate AIG’s complete disregard for the best interests of Mr. Cosby,” his lawyers said in the court filing. “Not only does AIG’s action bolster the underlying plaintiffs, who will perceive Mr. Cosby as under attack even from his supposed backers, but it splits Mr. Cosby’s focus and drains his resources.”

The filing also points out that some of the alleged defamatory statements made by Cosby are not sexual in nature, but rather relate to whether Cosby even knew the women involved or the extent of their involvement together.

Spokespeople for AIG declined to comment on the filing.

More than 40 women have accused the 78-year-old Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting them over the past several decades, though the entertainer has not been criminally charged and his lawyers have denied any wrongdoing on his part.

The cases in question are AIG Property Casualty Co v. Green et al, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, No. 15-30111; and AIG Property Casualty Co v. Cosby et al, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 15-04842.
 

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