Topic / Subject
TMZ claims Bill Cosby will not testify at trial in Donna Motsinger’s civil sexual assault lawsuit, and that a taped deposition could be used instead.

TL;DR
If Cosby does not take the stand, the trial could hinge on evidence and deposition footage, not live testimony from him.

Key Details
• Donna Motsinger has an active civil lawsuit alleging Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in the early 1970s.
• Per the Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi firm announcement, the lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2023.
• A journalist covering the case reports jury selection is scheduled to begin in Santa Monica, California.
• TMZ reports, citing new legal docs, that Cosby will not testify at trial and will not appear in court, with deposition footage expected to be used instead.
• The specific “won’t testify, won’t appear” claim is not independently confirmed in the intake beyond TMZ.

Breakdown
This is courtroom strategy talk, not a verdict. Whether a defendant testifies is often one of the biggest decisions in any civil trial, especially in a case with high public attention.

TMZ’s report frames it as settled, but the intake also notes the key limitation. There is no independent confirmation cited from court officials or major outlets on the exact claim that he will not appear at all.

If deposition footage is used, that shapes how the jury experiences the defense. A taped deposition can feel controlled and constrained compared to live testimony, but it also avoids the risks of cross examination in real time.

For now, the safest way to read this is procedural. The trial schedule and what evidence is allowed will drive what the public actually sees.

What We Know
• A civil lawsuit is active and has been publicly described by the plaintiff’s attorneys.
• Trial timing activity is being reported by a journalist covering the case.
• TMZ is claiming a specific plan for Cosby not to testify, based on legal documents it says it reviewed.

What We Don’t Know
• Whether Cosby’s side will later change strategy and appear in court
• What the judge will allow regarding deposition clips and broader evidence
• How the trial schedule could shift before jury selection begins
• Whether other outlets will confirm TMZ’s claim through court records or official comments

How Credible Is This?
Source quality: Medium. TMZ can be fast on legal docs, but this specific claim is not matched by a second confirmed source in the intake.
What supports it: The idea of using a deposition instead of live testimony is plausible as a legal strategy.
Confidence level: Low to Medium until confirmed by court filings or additional reporting.

Production Reality Check
Trials are moving targets. Motions in limine, evidence rulings, and scheduling issues can change what happens days before openings, sometimes hours.

Even if the plan is not to testify, “plan” and “final decision” are not always the same thing.

Does It Make Sense?
From a defense standpoint, avoiding the stand reduces risk. From a public standpoint, it increases scrutiny, because it can feel like a story being told without direct confrontation in the room.

What to Watch Next
• Court docket confirmation, if available through reputable reporting
• Any statement from Cosby’s legal team addressing the TMZ claim
• Judge rulings on what deposition footage can be shown
• Confirmation of jury selection dates and trial start timing

Sources
TMZ — “Bill Cosby Rape Accuser Says Cosby Won’t Take Stand At Trial”
Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi — lawsuit filing announcement and background
Nicki Weisensee Egan — “Bill Cosby’s Days of Reckoning Rapidly Approaching”

Comment
If Cosby does not take the stand, does that change how you think a jury will weigh the case?