Bill Cosby Sued By 5 Women For Sexual Assault: Lawsuit

NEW YORK ? Embattled actor Bill Cosby is facing new allegations of sexual assault and battery after five women filed a lawsuit in New York court Monday.

The lawsuit brought forth under New York's Adult Survivors Act accuses Cosby of sexual assault, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment, according to court documents.

The lawsuit also names NBCUniversal Media LLC, Kaufman Astoria Studios Inc., and The Carsey-Werner Company LLC as co-defendants.

According to the suit, Cosby "used his used his power, fame, and prestige, including the power, fame and prestige given to him" by his co-defendants to "misuse his enormous power in such a nefarious, horrific way."

In a statement provided to ABC News by his representatives, Cosby denied the accusations.

"Mr. Cosby continues to vehemently deny all allegations waged against him and looks forward to defending himself in court," the statement read.

The Adult Survivors Act allows survivors of sexual assault that occurred when they were over the age of 18 to sue their abusers regardless of the statute of limitations.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the act into law in May, saying it was an important step in empowering survivors across New York to hold their abusers accountable.

Cosby was the first among a slew of powerful men brought to a reckoning over charges that he abused his power for sexual gain. The accusations surfaced as the #MeToo movement took off in the mid-2010s and toppled once-powerful figures and convicted abusers like Harvey Weinstein.

The comedian was sentenced to three to 10 years behind bars in 2018 after being convicted of drugging and sexually abusing Andrea Constand inside his Cheltenham home in 2004.

In June 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Cosby's sexual assault sentence, citing an immunity deal reached with a prosecutor in 2005. The ruling also barred Cosby from being tried in the case again.

Dozens of women have come forward with similar allegations of abuse against Cosby since Constand's case became public, although Constand's case was the first brought to criminal trial.

In June 2022, a Santa Monica jury sided with a California woman when it found Cosby sexually abused her when she was a teenager at the Playboy Mansion in the 1970s. The jury awarded her $500,000 in damages.