Camille Cosby will not have to be deposed tomorrow, as previously scheduled, in connection with a lawsuit charging husband Bill with sexually assaulting and defaming seven women.
A judge granted Camille’s emergency motion to postponed Wednesday’s deposition in Springfield, Mass., until an appeal of the order to make her testify can be settled.
Last week, U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennessey denied a motion by Cosby lawyers to throw out the subpoena. An appeal was filed with the same judge Monday, claiming, “without a stay of her deposition, both Mrs. Cosby’s privacy and freedom will be put at issue.”
Judge Hennessey agreed to the postponement today, saying it would be unfair to deny Camille her right to appeal. But he added that if the appeal is denied, the deposition will be rescheduled to take place as soon as possible.
Late last night, Judge Hennessey ordered that Camille’s deposition would be kept under seal if it indeed were to take place Wednesday. But now that will not happen.
Camille — Bill’s wife for 52 years and his business manager — was subpoenaed early last month by lawyers representing seven women who claim her husband “drugged and/or sexually assaulted each” of them.
Cosby’s legal team successfully argued that the intimate nature of the questions Camille could face would be embarrassing if released publicly.
The Massachusetts civil suit was filed in December 2014 by Tamara Green and later joined by six other women, accusing the disgraced comic of sexual assault, abuse and defamation, according to court documents.
Cosby counter-sued the women last month, claiming they defamed him with their accusations.
A separate, criminal suit was filed against Cosby in Pennsylvania last week, claiming he sexually assaulted a woman in 2004.
Cosby is free on $1 million bail and maintains his innocence.
