1. The Bill Cosby Case
Brian Redd, Noelle Sample, Sean Riggs, Jeronica Perry

2. The Five W’s and H Who: Actor, Comedian, and Author Bill Cosby
What: Over 30 different women have come forward with allegations of
sexual assault against Cosby
When: -Majority of allegations made between January 2005 and March
2015
-Alleged assaults took place between 1965 and 2008
Where: Across the United States and into Canada
Why: Cosby has been a prominent figure for decades
-Not what you would expect to hear about such a well respected individual
How: Consistent theme among many accusers of Mr. Cosby offering help
with a career, drugging the women, sexualy assaulting them and then paying them off

3. Key Players and Talking Heads
-Bill Cosby
Cosby’s Lawyers:
-Martin Singer & John P. Schmitt
-Frank Scotti
-Camille Cosby
-The women accusers
-Cosby’s publicist David Brokaw

4. Timeline 1965- 1st incident happens no accusations surfaced
Cosby was reported to be joking about drugging girls in his standup and some interviews.
Frank Scotty
Frank Scotty claims he paid 8 women off for Cosby and he still has the money orders as proof.
2004- Andrea Constand alleges that she was assaulted in this year.
2005-Constand files a civil lawsuit against Bill Cosby.
circumstantial evidence was not enough to file a criminal suit.
Tamara Green came forward on the Today Show and inside the Philadelphia Inquirer saying that Bill Cosby drugged her and sexually assaulted her in the early 1970s. In response to the allegations, Cosby’s lawyers “branded the allegations, “absolutely false,” and Cosby’s aides approached another newspaper with “damaging information,” about [Green],” according to court documents from the current lawsuit Green, Traitz, and Serignese has against Cosby. (Manly New York Times)
2006-Cosby settled with Constand for an undisclosed amount
Accusers and more women come forward.
2008-Chloe Goins comes forward with allegations that could bring criminal charges against Cosby.
2014-Khristina Ruehli comes forward. She is significant because her allegations date all the way back to She allegedly one of the first women Cosby assaulted.
3 women open a civil case for defamation. Green, Traitz, Serignese.
2015-LAPD announces it will investigate Chloe Goins’s claims that Cosby assaulted her in Her accusations are the first to fall within California’s statute of limitations

5. The Women Accusers Andrea Constand(2004) Chloe Goins (2008)
Andrea Constand, who is the director of operations for Temple University women’s basketball team, met Cosby in 2002 when he approached her about mentoring her. In 2004 Constand met Cosby at his Pennsylvania home and was given pills by the actor to ease her anxiety. After being drugged, Constand claims Cosby groped and sexually assaulted her.
In 2005, Constand filed a civil lawsuit against Cosby.
Chloe Goins (2008)
Chloe Goins claims Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her during a party at the Playboy Mansion when she was 18.

6. The Women Accusers Continued
Kristina Ruehli (1965)
In 1965 Kristina Ruehli was a struggling woman living in California. She worked as a secretary for a talent agency where she met Bill Cosby. Ruehli was invited to a party at his home, but when she got there she was the only guest. She claimed that Cosby gave her a cocktail that which made her pass out. She also claimed that Cosby attempted to force her to do sexual acts to him.
Tamera Green (1975)
Tamera Green is a retired lawyer who met Cosby at an L.A restaurant. She was suffering from the flu at the time and she claims Cosby gave her pills to help heal the symptoms. Soon after taking the pills, Green started to feel drowsy and that is when Cosby took her back to her apartment and sexual assaulted her.
Therese Serignese (Mid-1970’s)
After meeting Cosby at one of his stand up shows, Therese Serignese was pressured into taking Quaaludes (a powerful sedative-hypnotic drug). Soon after, Serignese claims Cosby pressured her into agreeing to engage in sexual activities with him.

7. Stories Of The Accusers

8. What took them so long?
Seemed to be a common belief by many of the women that going up against the popular Bill Cosby was pointless.
Fear that people wouldn’t believe them, as Cosby would only be seen as the funny, good guy, Dr. Huxtable, that he played on television.
Many felt ashamed or they didn’t want to let people down
Barbara Bowman (Cosby accuser)
"When I went in the lawyer's office he laughed at me, he treated me as if I was delusional.“ “Who's going to believe that? Bill Cosby? Dr. Huxtable?“
Joan Tarshis (Cosby accuser)
“It’s me versus the big Bill Cosby, a Hollywood powerhouse over this little 19 year old girl. “I really didn’t want to upset my parents.“
Janice Dickinson (Cosby accuser)
“I was afraid of being labeled a whore or a slut and trying to sleep my way to the top of a career that never took place.”
Jewel Allison (Cosby accuser)
“I didn’t tell because I didn’t want to let black America down.”

9. Others Involved Camille Cosby (Bill’s Wife)
"There appears to be no vetting of my husband's accusers before stories are published or read."
"An accusation is published, and immediately goes viral."
"A different man has been portrayed in the media over the last two months. It is the portrait of a man I do not know. It is also the portrait painted by individuals and organizations whom many in the media have given a pass." (Camille defends husband in interview with Associated Press)
Frank Scotti (Former work associate of Bill’s)
-Frank Scotti claims that he sent money to women for Cosby and he saved
copies of the money orders.
-Scotti also claims it was once his job to guard the door after bringing young
women to Cosby's dressing room in Brooklyn, but that he doesn't know what went
on behind closed doors.
"I felt like a pimp.”
"Every time he had somebody I had to watch, I had the girl stay there. I felt
dirty."

10. Cosby on the Dr. Drew show

11. Why is this a PR problem?
Bill Cosby is a prominent figure within the African American Community.
The allegations against him are very damaging to the image and reputation he has held for so long.
People in the African American community do not have many good role models. Bill Cosby has served as a father figure for years.
Cosby’s Lawyer seems to be the spokesperson, and advisor about Cosby’s lack of communication.

12. Message and response strategy
-Scorched-Earth Strategy- Anything negative in the accusers’ past that might discredit them is fair game
-Blame Shifting- Shifting the blame on other people
-Avoidance, Denial, and Silence
“There’s no response,” Cosby said. “There is no comment about that. And I’ll tell you why. I don’t want to compromise your integrity, but I don’t talk about it. (response during interview by Associated Press)
"I know people are tired of me not saying anything, but a guy doesn't have to answer to innuendos.” (Cosby to Florida today)
"Over the last several weeks, decade-old, discredited allegations against Mr. Cosby have resurfaced. The fact that they are being repeated does not make them true. Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment. He would like to thank all his fans for the outpouring of support and assure them that, at age 77, he is doing his best work. There will be no further statement from Mr. Cosby or any of his representatives." ( John P. Schmitt, lawyer for Bill Cosby)
"At some point, his silence becomes almost kind of an admission," he said. "These are horrible, horrendous allegations." (CNN political contributor Van Jones)
"It appears that his story is pure speculation so that he can get his 15 minutes of fame.''
Cosby's attorney, Martin Singer tells NBC News in reference to Frank Scotti
Cosby Team’s Strategy: Hush Accusers, Insult Them, Blame the Media- New York Times

13. Cosby’s only response

14. Statute of limitations and how it affects Cosby?
-Possible reason behind Cosby’s silence
Statute of Limitations: Law that prevents prosecutors from charging someone with a crime that was committed more than a specified number of years ago
-Statute of Limitations can be different between states and between different crimes
***In January 2015, the LAPD announced they will investigate Chloe Goins’s claim that Cosby assaulted her in Her accusations are the first to fall within California’s statute of limitations.***

15. Situation and Public analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
If some or all of the allegations are true, Cosby is protected by the Statute of Limitations
Cosby’s silence
Threats
Opportunities
These accusations can and will harm his legend.
Breaking silence, and/or taking ownership.
Providing actual evidence that the allegations are not true

16. Media Coverage Yale students petition to rescind Cosby's degree
There have been numerous other petitions started in response to this case including petitions to cancel Cosby’s shows, rescind degrees, and to remove him from positions
Bill Cosby's Legacy
In depth Washington Post article about the situation, the accusers, Camille Cosby, the agency, and the lawsuit
Hollywood Mostly Silent About Allegations
For the most past hollywood has been silent about the Cosby allegations with the exception of a few. Most don’t appear ready to completely throw Cosby under the bus

17. Social Media
Some African-Americans Remain Skeptical Over Bill Cosby Rape Allegations On Social Media
-African-American views
November Cosby tweeted asking fans to meme him…
>backfired quickly and was taken down

18. Conclusion
-Allegations have created a timeline that goes back decades of Bill Cosby sexually assaulting various women.
-For various reasons, whether it be fear, shame, or something else, almost all of the women accusers have missed their chance within the statute of limitations to file charges against Mr. Cosby.
-It appears that Mr. Cosby has taken full advantage of the statute of limitations with his sustained silence even amid a wildfire of sexual assault allegations.
-It seems the only chance this silence will end is if an accuser comes forward whose accusations fall within the statute of limitations.
Chloe Goins’s claim is currently being investigated by the LAPD and would be the first to fall within the statute.

19. Sources
New York Post