An insurance company for convicted sexual predator Bill Cosby has settled another lawsuit brought by an accuser – this time model Janice Dickinson – without his approval.
During a press conference on Thursday, Dickinson, 64, called settling the defamation lawsuit stemming from her rape allegations against Cosby, 82, a ‘victory’ that brings a ‘measure of justice’ but said nothing can erase her assault by the now-imprisoned comedian.
Dickinson said the case was settled for an ‘epic’ amount but that the terms of the deal keep the exact figure confidential, while speaking from the office of her attorney Lisa Bloom.
A spokesperson for Cosby launched into a furious invective against insurance company AIG, labeling them the ‘worst and egregious insurance company in America’s history’.
They went onto say ‘this is the third example in recent months of AIG robbing Mr. Cosby of the opportunity to clear his name in a court of law, where evidence and truthfulness are supposed to be elevated above headlines and gossip.’
Bloom noted that nothing in the agreement bars Dickinson from telling her story, alleging that Cosby drugged and raped her in 1982, ‘for the rest of her life, whenever and wherever she wants to.’
Cosby spokesperson Andrew Wyatt has said Cosby denies the assault and defamation allegations and has been robbed of a chance to prove it in court.
Cosby was convicted and sent to prison for the 2004 sexual assault of Andrea Constand, now 46.
‘Truthfully, a settlement is a victory, and certainly a measure of justice and helps me sleep better,’ Dickinson said at the press conference.
‘But in reality, NOTHING can ever erase the experience and memories of an assault.
‘Jail is where he belongs but there aren’t enough years left for him to pay for what he has done to so very many, many women.’
Cosby insurer American International Group Inc. settled Dickinson’s claim without his approval, as it has with at least eight other women who have filed similar lawsuits alleging Cosby and his agent maligned them by denying their sexual assault allegations.
Against Bill Cosby’s (left) wishes, his insurer American International Group Inc. has settled Janice Dickinson’s (right) defamation claim over his lawyer calling her a liar over rape allegations stemming from 1982. Cosby is serving a 3-to-10-year prison term for his 2004 sexual assault of Andrea Constand
Bloom also spoke, confirming Dickinson had accepted a ‘very large settlement amount.’
‘This amount means that Janice will be fully and fairly compensated for being branded a liar by Cosby and his representatives.’
The claim alleged that Cosby’s lawyer defamed Dickinson by calling her a liar when she came forward accusing him of rape, and that his lawyer did so at Cosby’s direction.
Cosby had maintained the comments by his legal team were not defamation, but also were not made at his direction and that he made no such statement, himself.
Dickinson is one of six accusers who testified at the 2018 criminal trial that led to Cosby’s conviction and a three to 10-year prison term for his sexual assault of Constand.
At a press conference on Thursday with her lawyer, Lisa Bloom(left), Dickinson (right) said: ‘Truthfully, a settlement is a victory, and certainly a measure of justice and helps me sleep better, but in reality, NOTHING can ever erase the experience and memories of an assault’
‘This has been a rough road, you guys,’ Dickinson said on Thursday.
‘It’s been over four years of being labeled a liar and shamed by Cosby, living beneath my potential and having my work dried up due to the lies he told about me.’
Dickinson thanked Bloom for ‘bringing justice into [her] life.’ She credited her attorney with ‘tireless, dogged persistence’ in ‘fighting for [her] life.’
‘I have found that regardless of others’ opinions, coming out with the truth and insisting on the truth was the best path for me, and in doing so I found that so many, many people, male, female, young and old, are supportive of the truth when you come out,’ Dickinson said.
‘Sisters, my advice to you is never, ever give up, ever!’ Dickson said, raising a fist in the air. ‘Tell your story and stand up for your rights!’
Dickinson’s claim alleged that Cosby’s lawyer defamed Dickinson (left) by calling her a liar when she came forward accusing him of rape, and that his lawyer did so at Cosby’s direction. Cosby had maintained the comments by his legal team were not defamation, but also were not made at his direction and that he made no such statement, himself. Cosby is pictured leaving the Montgomery County Courthouse after sentencing in his sexual assault trial in Norristown, Pennsylvania on September 25
Cosby could not be prosecuted for Dickinson’s allegations from the early 1980s. Referencing this fact, Dickinson said:
‘He’s where he belongs, but I also need to say one very powerful thing that I need to address to the lawmakers of this country.
‘We need to work on the justice system about statutes of limitation against traffickers, against rapists… When you rob someone of their innocence, how can you put a statute of limitation around men that have done this?’
Bloom called the ‘epic amount’ of the undisclosed settlement ‘a powerful statement from Bill Cosby’s own insurance company, over his objections, that Janice has won her case.’
An AIG spokesman did not return messages seeking comment.
The amount of Dickinson’s (right) settlement cannot be disclosed, per the terms, but Bloom (left) said it was ‘epic’ and Dickinson is free to continue to tell her story, wherever and whenever she wants, for the rest of her life