American comedian and actor, Bill Cosby, has been found responsible for sexually abusing former waitress Donna Motsinger, with a jury awarding her $19.25 million in damages.

The verdict was delivered on Monday by the California civil jury after the court found that Mr Cosby drugged and assaulted Ms Motsinger in 1972 after inviting her to one of his comedy shows.

Ms Motsinger told the court that she met Mr Cosby while working at a restaurant in Sausalito.

According to her lawsuit, he later invited her to a performance, picked her up in a limousine, and offered her wine.

She said she was later given a pill that made her unconscious and recalled waking up later at home partially undressed, realising she had been assaulted.

Speaking after the ruling, Ms Motsinger described the decision as long overdue.

She said it had taken 54 years to reach this point and expressed hope that the outcome might bring some comfort to other women who have made similar allegations.

The 88-year-old former actor denied the allegations, insisting that any past sexual encounters were consensual.

Mr Cosby’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, said the defence team was disappointed and would challenge the verdict on appeal, maintaining that they believe there are strong grounds to overturn the decision.

“I was obviously disappointed in the decision, but we believe we have a strong appeal and we’ll pursue that,” she said.

Mr Cosby is popularly known for his role in The Cosby Show, which portrayed a successful Black family.

In 2018, he was convicted of sexually assaulting one of his mentees, a former Temple University employee, Andrea Constand, and served about three years in prison before the conviction was overturned in 2021.