Model sues Bill Cosby, alleging sex assault at Playboy Mansion in 2008

Bill Cosby’s troubles got worse Tuesday when a woman sued him in a Los Angeles federal court, alleging the legendary comedian sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 2008.

The civil suit by Chloe Goins comes as L.A. County prosecutors are already reviewing a criminal investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department into the 25-year-old model’s allegations.

LAPD detectives presented the findings of their investigation last week to the district attorney’s office, which is reviewing the work.

Goins, speaking outside LAPD headquarters, said of the dozens of women who have accused Cosby of sexually assaulting them, she is one of the few who can bring Cosby to justice.

“Your experience is just like mine, and mine just like yours. We are not alone,” she said. “This has been going on long enough. It is time Bill Cosby was held accountable for his actions.”

FULL COVERAGE: Bill Cosby sex assault allegations

In the lawsuit filed Tuesday, Goins’ lawyers named 40 other women across the nation who have alleged they were sexually assaulted, molested or subject to misconduct by Cosby over the decades. Most went public in the last year.

Goins alleges that during a party at the Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills in 2008, Cosby gave her a drink that caused her to black out. When she awoke, she found herself naked on a bed with Cosby biting her toes and his pants around his ankles and masturbating, according to her attorney, Spencer Kuvin.

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Once called “America’s Dad,” Bill Cosby built a career around his Everyman image; now he’s facing allegations of sexual assault. Here are some of his career and life moments.

  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Cosby was born on July 12, 1937 and raised in Philadelphia. After being a sports star in high school, he joined the Navy and has been a vocal supporter ever since. Here, he’s shown at a Veterans Day ceremony in 2014.  (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

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Bill Cosby (pictured in 2010) began his showbiz life as a stand-up comedian in the early 1960s. His wholesome comedy, liked by black and white audiences, was often criticized in comparison with edgy stand-ups like Richard Pryor and Lenny Bruce.  (Timothy A. Clary / AFP/Getty Images)

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Autumn Jackson claimed to be the daughter of Bill Cosby, but, in a high-profile case, was convicted in 1997 of trying to extort $40 million from the comedian. Cosby had acknowledged a relationship with Jackson’s mother but denied he was the father.  (David Karo / Associated Press)

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Tragedy struck in 1997 when Bill Cosby’s son, Ennis, was killed alongside a Los Angeles highway, making national headlines. Mikhail Markhasev confessed to the crime.  (Alan Singer / Associated Press)

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The Temple University graduate has long been a supporter of education and is often seen in clothing emblazoned with school names. Here, Cosby addresses graduates of Teachers College at Columbia University in 1998.  (Suzanne Plunkett / Associated Press)

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Bill Cosby became a Kennedy Center Honors recipient in 1998. He’s pictured with his wife, Camille, as they arrive at the White House for a reception.  (Chris Kleponis / AFP)

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Bill Cosby has long been an activist and civil rights proponent, from participating in marches to supporting figures like former South African President Nelson Mandela in human rights causes.  (Sasa Kralj / Associated Press)

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Cosby’s love of jazz translated to him serving as host of the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, which he did from 1979 to 2012.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

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Several women have claimed that Cosby sexually assaulted them. Though the comedian has denied the allegations, several recent projects and appearances have been dropped or canceled.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

“With this lawsuit, we are demanding Bill Cosby face the same justice as any other sexual predator,” Kuvin said.

The attorney said his client was a teenager at the time of the alleged incident, which he would only say was in 2008. Goins was born in May 1990.

In January, Goins was interviewed for 2½ hours by an LAPD detective, according to her lawyer. Cosby’s attorneys have denied the accusations and insisted he was not at the party.

Goins’ statement that she was given a drink and blacked out is similar to many of the statements of other alleged Cosby victims. The comedian said in a deposition a decade ago that he obtained Quaaludes for the purpose of giving to women before sex.

The lawsuit comes as attorney Gloria Allred is slated to depose Cosby in a lawsuit by Judy Huth, who alleges he sexually assaulted her in 1974.

Earlier this year, the district attorney rejected charging the comedian based on Huth’s allegation because the alleged incident was too long ago.

Under California law, the legal deadline for prosecuting most rape cases involving an adult victim is 10 years. In most other adult sex-crime cases -- including the type Goins is alleging -- the statute of limitations is generally six years, according to Laurie Levenson, a Loyola law professor and former prosecutor. That would place Goins’ case outside the time allowed for prosecution.

For more Southern California crime news, follow @lacrimes on Twitter.

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