NEW YORK, NY – A fresh lawsuit has been lodged against famed actor Bill Cosby by Joan Tarshis, alleging sexual assault over half a century ago when she was an up-and-coming comedy writer. The suit was filed under the Adult Survivors Act of New York, a law set to expire soon, which allows victims of sexual abuse a one-year grace period to file claims otherwise restricted by time limits.
Tarshis, now residing in New York, was living in California during the alleged assault. She met Cosby, then a star of “The Bill Cosby Show,” through a mutual acquaintance. Tarshis made these allegations in 2014, reiterating them in the current lawsuit.
Andrew Wyatt, Cosby’s spokesperson, did not directly comment on Tarshis’s allegations but expressed concern about the continual lawsuits filed under the Adult Survivors Act. Cosby, now 86, has faced accusations from over 60 women of rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment, all of which he vehemently denies. He was let out of prison in 2021 after his conviction was overturned.
Tarshis was among the first to accuse Cosby publicly, and her interview with Don Lemon on CNN garnered significant social media attention, leading to an apology from Lemon. Tarshis had previously sued Cosby in Massachusetts for defamation, along with six other women, after Cosby labeled them as liars. These cases were settled in 2019.
The fresh lawsuit accuses Cosby of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment. It describes an incident where Tarshis alleges Cosby sexually assaulted her after she accepted a drink from him at his studio bungalow. Terrified, Tarshis returned to New York without disclosing the incident to anyone.
The lawsuit also details a second incident in 1971 when Cosby invited her to his show at the Westbury Music Fair. Tarshis alleges she lost consciousness in a limousine arranged by Cosby and woke up next to him in bed, having been raped. The Adult Survivors Act, under which this lawsuit was filed, is set to expire next week.