Cosby’s Wife Is Fighting Deposition in Defamation Lawsuit

Cosby’s Wife Is Fighting Deposition in Defamation Lawsuit
One the left, William H. Cosby during his arraignment December 30, 2015 in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. (Montgomery County District Attorney's Office via Getty Images) One the right, Dr. Camille Cosby, wife of comedian Bill Cosby, attends the Jackie Robinson Foundation annual awards dinner, Monday, March 3, 2008, in New York. (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff)
The Associated Press
1/15/2016
Updated:
1/15/2016

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.—Lawyers for Bill Cosby’s wife are challenging a judge’s decision allowing her to be questioned under oath in a Massachusetts defamation lawsuit filed by seven women who allege Cosby sexually abused them decades ago.

Last month, Magistrate Judge David Hennessy refused to quash a subpoena from lawyers who want to depose Camille Cosby. Hennessy found that a marital disqualification rule in Massachusetts doesn’t apply to deposition testimony.

In an appeal filed Thursday, Camille Cosby’s lawyers argued that the rule prohibits a spouse from testifying about private marital conversations in any court proceeding, including depositions.

The women suing Cosby for defamation are among approximately 50 who have gone public over the last year with sexual misconduct allegations. He has denied the allegations and filed a countersuit suit against the women.