Cosby’s wife is fighting deposition in defamation lawsuit

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.