Bill Cosby’s Lawyer Fights Back Against Sexual Assault Suit

Bill Cosby ‘s lawyer is coming out firing about the sexual abuse lawsuit filed against the comedian on Tuesday.

The lawsuit alleges that Cosby, 77, sexually assaulted Judy Huth, who was 15 at the time, and that the incident has led to “mental anguish” and “significant problems throughout her life.”

In papers filed in L.A. Superior Court on Wednesday Cosby’s lawyer, Martin Singer, calls Huth’s claims false – and says her lawyer attempted to extort Cosby for $250,000 before filing the suit. He also disputes her claim to have only discovered her psychological injury within the past three years (as required by the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases in California), asserting she tried to sell her story to a tabloid nine years ago.

In addition, Singer says that Huth failed to provide the legally necessary Certificate of Merit executed by her attorney and a licensed mental health practitioner to back up her claims of mental anguish.

Huth’s claims “are absolutely false” and her case “fails to state sufficient facts to constitute a cause of action for claims arising out of alleged childhood sexual abuse,” Singer writes, asking for monetary sanctions from Huth and her lawyer in the amount of at least $33,295 to cover “reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees.”

Cosby and his lawyer claim that Huth’s lawyer Marc Strecker asked for $100,00 and $250,000 on separate occasions in exchange for Huth refraining from pursuing criminal or civil claims. The papers also state that the “Plaintiff’s counsel admitted within days of filing the lawsuit that he only spent an hour meeting with her and that he did not know if she had ever seen a therapist or undergone therapy for this incident.”

Strecker has not responded to requests for comment.

Since Huth’s lawsuit was filed, three accusers have come forward demanding a $100 million fund for alleged victims.

On Thursday, L.A. Police Department chief Charlie Beck said his department would investigate any accusations brought against Cosby, even those beyond the statute of limitations. “We don’t turn people away because things are out of statute. You come to us, especially with a sexual allegation, we will work with you,” the chief said. “We address these things seriously, and it’s not just because it’s Mr. Cosby.”

This article originally appeared on People.com

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