Judge Rules Bill Cosby's Wife Must Testify in Defamation Lawsuit
Camille Cosby was denied a motion that requested she to be exempt from testifying in a defamation lawsuit brought by seven women who allege that Bill Cosby, her husband of over 50 years, sexually assaulted them.
"I find no merit in Mrs. Cosby's arguments, and accordingly deny her motion in its entirety," U.S. Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy of Springfield, Massachusetts ruled on December 31. The 12-page ruling says Camille's arguments "do not outweigh the potential significance of Mrs. Cosby's testimony, nor has Mrs. Cosby provided any authority that they do."
Bill has denied all sexual assault accusations against him, which led to Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, Linda Traitz, Louisa Moritz, Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis and Angela Leslie filing suit claiming that his denial of such allegations are both false and defamatory. Camille, who is also her husband's business partner, was subpoenaed in December and argued that, by law, she shouldn't have to testify against her husband in regards to his "sexual proclivities."
The motion to squash Camille's subpoena, filed on Dec. 18, claimed that the deposition was "nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to pressure defendant in the face of subjecting his wife to the shame and embarrassment of responding to questions about his alleged infidelities and sexual misconduct."
WATCH: Bill Cosby's Accusers -- A Timeline of Alleged Sexual Assault Claims
Camille, 71, also filed a protective order to limit the scope of the subpoena but that too was denied by the judge. She is scheduled to testify on Jan. 6.
Bill is counter-suing the women, claiming they are making false accusations for their own financial gain.
WATCH: Bill Cosby Breaks Silence Following Sexual Assault Charge
Judge Hennessy's ruling to have Camille testify in the lawsuit came the same week as the former Cosby Show star was charged with felony aggravated indecent assault for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand in January 2004. He was released Wednesday afternoon after posting $1 million bail.
Here's more on the sexual assault charge against the 78-year-old comedian: