Bill Cosby accuser defending defamation suit

Attorneys for a Pittsburgh-area woman who says Bill Cosby repeatedly drugged and had sex with her in the 1980s have filed a response to Cosby’s attempt to have a federal judge dismiss the lawsuit.

Cosby’s attorneys last week asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit filed in October by Renita Hill.

She sued claiming Cosby made her out to be a “liar” and “extortionist” when the comedian, his wife and his attorney issued blanket denials to claims that Cosby drugged and sexually molested women shortly after Hill went public with her allegations in November 2014.

Cosby’s attorneys claimed the denials constitute opinions that are protected by the First Amendment. But Hill’s attorneys said on Tuesday that those opinion were based on “undisclosed fact” — namely, the implication that Hill is lying.

Cosby’s attorneys didn’t immediately respond.