In a significant legal move, William Morris Endeavor (WME), a leading Hollywood talent agency, has filed a motion to extricate itself from a lawsuit involving Bill Cosby, the once-celebrated comedian now mired in sexual assault accusations. The motion, submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court, aims to remove WME as a co-defendant in a case brought by Linda Ridgway-Whitedeer, alleging Cosby's sexual misconduct dating back to 1971.
WME's legal stance, as presented in their court filing, is centered on the argument of having no control or knowledge of the events that took place over half a century ago. The agency, formed from the merger of William Morris and Endeavour in 2009, has categorically denied all allegations in Ridgway-Whitedeer's complaint. They contend that any potential harm suffered by the plaintiff was caused by third parties outside of the agency's influence or knowledge. Furthermore, WME's legal representatives, including notable attorney Matthew Rosengart, have cited the statute of limitations as a basis for their defense, asserting that the delay in filing the lawsuit has prejudiced WME's rights.
The origins of the lawsuit date back to when Cosby, preparing for his film "Hickey & Boggs," allegedly used his clout as a client of the then William Morris Agency to request a personal audition with Ridgway-Whitedeer, leading to the purported assault. Under a new Californian law, which extends the time frame for sexual assault victims to seek civil remedies, Ridgway-Whitedeer launched her lawsuit.
In their response to the lawsuit, WME's attorneys have requested the court to dismiss the negligence claims against them with prejudice and have additionally asked that Ridgway-Whitedeer be held responsible for the lawsuit's costs.
This legal entanglement forms part of the broader saga surrounding Cosby, who has been embroiled in multiple allegations and legal battles over sexual assault. Despite his initial sentencing in 2018 for the rape of Andrea Constand and subsequent imprisonment, Cosby's conviction was overturned in 2021. Yet, in June 2022, he faced a setback when found civilly liable in a separate case involving a minor at the Playboy Mansion in the 1970s.
Cosby's association with the William Morris Agency, and its successor WME, spanned from 1964 until 2012, after which he briefly moved to CAA before being quietly dropped as the allegations against him surfaced. The Cosby case has been a focal point of the #MeToo movement, with over 60 women accusing him of sexual misconduct, often involving drugs and alcohol.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the court has yet to schedule a hearing for WME's request to be dismissed from the Ridgway-Whitedeer case. The outcome of this motion could have significant implications for both Cosby's ongoing legal battles and the responsibilities of agencies in Hollywood.
