Camille Cosby Says She Was Almost Dragged Into Court By U.S. Marshalls

A federal judge has agreed to postpone the deposition of Bill Cosby’s wife in a Massachusetts lawsuit that accuses the comedian of defaming several women.

Camille Cosby had been scheduled to be deposed Wednesday by lawyers for the women who said Bill Cosby sexually assaulted them decades ago.

In an emergency motion filed on Monday, Camille Cosby asked U.S. District Judge Mark Mastroianni, the judge presiding over Tamara Green, et al. v. William H. Cosby, Jr., to postpone her planned Jan. 6 deposition to allow time for a review of her appeal of an earlier ruling that compelled her testimony in the first place.

On Dec. 31, U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy denied Camille Cosby’s request to quash the deposition subpoena, which she had argued was void under the constraints of the Massachusetts Marital Disqualification Rule.

The rule says, “In any proceeding, civil or criminal, a witness shall not testify as to private conversations with a spouse occurring during their marriage.”

The magistrate interpreted the rule to only apply to trials, rather than depositions.

But in her latest motion, Cosby argues that the magistrate’s definition was too narrow.

“Without a stay of her deposition, both Mrs. Cosby’s privacy and freedom will be put at issue in a case to which she is not a party, and for which she is not alleged to have any personal, first-hand knowledge,” the motion says.

The court documents reveal that after the magistrate’s ruling, Camille Cosby reached out to the plaintiffs and asked if they would be willing to postpone the deposition. The plaintiffs refused and threatened to have Camille Cosby brought to court by US Marshall if needed, the motion says.

She also expresses profound distress concerning what will become of her testimony after she gives it.

“Plaintiffs have indicated that they intend to disclose Mrs. Cosby’s deposition testimony, including her private marital conversations, to the press,” the motion says. “In his Order, the Magistrate has suggested that the Plaintiffs may ask Mrs. Cosby about the most intimate details of her marital life, including her husband’s sexual ‘proclivities’. … Plaintiffs have made clear that they will publicize all such testimony.”

Bill Cosby is facing defamation charges in his home state of Massachusetts from seven women who allege that the comedian sexually assaulted them, or at least attempted to do so with the aid of drugs.

In response to the accusations, Bill Cosby referred to the women as liars in a statement released through his attorney.

The women, in turn, claimed the attorney’s statement was defamatory. Recently, Cosby filed a countersuit against the plaintiffs for defamation, claiming that the accusers have cost the comedian business deals due to their sexual assault allegations.

The comedian has also been indicted in Pennsylvania on a charge of aggravated indecent assault stemming from an alleged 2004 incident involving a Temple University employee.

This story was originally published by Courthouse News.

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