Bill Cosby Claims "Self-Defense" in Defamation Lawsuit

Lawyers for Bill Cosby petitioned a federal judge on Monday to throw out the defamation lawsuit filed by three women who accused the comedian of sexual assault and who, in turn, were branded liars by Cosby's camp, CBS News reports.

Cosby's lawyers said their client only acted in "self-defense" and that the Constitution protects his right to defend himself. As for the remarks that aren't protected by the First Amendment, Cosby's lawyers said the statute of limitations has run out on them.

Bill Cosby now wants to block the release of sexual assault case material

Tamara Green, Therese Seignese and Linda Traitz, all of whom say Cosby assaulted them in the 1970s, are now suing the actor for defamation after his representatives openly accused them of lying and even attempted to use Traitz's criminal record to undermine her story, urging people to "consider the source."

Supermodel Janice Dickinson, who is among the dozens of women who have accused Cosby of drugging and assaulting them, has also sued him for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.