Nine women sue comedian Bill Cosby for defamation. The defamatory act: publicly denying he sexually assaulted them. Cosby: My homeowners insurance and umbrella coverage cover defamation; my insurer must pay to defend the defamation claims. Insurer: Ah, but there’s an exclusion for claims arising out of sexual misconduct. Cosby: The claims arise out of my public statements; any sexual misconduct is a separate issue. First Circuit (in opinion by Justice Souter): Not an easy call, but the insurer must defend Cosby.
