Motsinger Seeks Contempt Finding Against Cosby
Donna Motsinger asks a judge to hold Bill Cosby in contempt for not paying a $59.25 million jury judgment.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Financial Crime
Donna Motsinger has asked a judge to hold Bill Cosby in contempt, saying he has not paid a jury judgment or turned over financial information. A judge had ordered Cosby to provide financial disclosures and pay $1,560 in sanctions within 10 days of October 9.
Why it matters
The request tests whether a court-ordered civil judgment can be enforced when the defendant has not complied with financial disclosure orders. It also shows how the case has moved from the jury verdict into post-trial enforcement and collection.
Donna Motsinger has requested an arrest warrant if Cosby does not appear, and a hearing on her latest request is scheduled for January. Cosby's appeal of the rulings to a higher court remains pending.
The players
Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby is an American comedian and actor best known for co-starring in the sitcom The Cosby Show, whose 2018 sexual assault conviction was later overturned.
Donna Motsinger
Donna Motsinger is the plaintiff who accused Bill Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 1972 and won the civil jury verdict against him.
The details
A jury found Cosby liable in March after Motsinger accused him of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 1972, awarding $19.25 million in damages and $40 million in punitive damages. In May, a judge rejected Cosby's efforts to overturn the verdict and secure a new trial, and on October 9 ordered him to provide financial information and pay sanctions, which Motsinger now says he did not do.
Timeline
March: Jury found Cosby liable and awarded damages.
May: A judge rejected Cosby's bid to overturn the verdict.
October 9: A judge ordered financial disclosure and $1,560 in sanctions within 10 days.
November 6, 2026: Motsinger requested a contempt finding and arrest warrant.
January: A hearing on Motsinger's contempt request is scheduled.
Legal Context
The civil case follows Cosby's 2018 criminal sexual assault conviction, which was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2021. Civil suits can proceed on a separate track, and this contempt request shows how such judgments are enforced after a verdict.
The outcome could determine whether the $59.25 million judgment is collected, which affects how civil verdicts against public figures are enforced. Court-ordered financial disclosure rules apply to any defendant in a civil case.
The takeaway
A jury verdict is only the first step, and enforcing a judgment often depends on the defendant's cooperation with court orders. Readers following civil cases should watch whether financial disclosure and sanction deadlines are met.
What happens next
A hearing on Motsinger's latest contempt request is scheduled for January.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Financial Crime reporting across the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TMZ.
