Tommy Lee and Bill Cosby Sex Assault Accusers Await New Law to Revive Lawsuits
Imagine surviving a horrific sexual assault, a memory that haunts you for two decades – or more. One of the worst parts is the perpetrator was someone famous. Somebody like Bill Cosby or Tommy Lee. Then you finally muster the tons of courage it takes to seek justice, only to have a judge toss your case out on a technicality.
Protecting the Powerful
This sadly (and enragingly) isn’t a twisted plot from a legal drama; it’s the real-life nightmare for Heather Evans Taylor, who has accused Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee of a brutal assault. Her story – and others like it – reveals a highly broken system that often protects powerful men instead of their victims.
The Loopholes That Affected Tommy Lee and Bill Cosby Accusations
In 2023, Heather Evans Taylor filed a lawsuit against Tommy Lee. She detailed a terrifying helicopter ride in 2003 where she alleged Lee and the pilot David Martz sexually assaulted her right after consuming drugs and alcohol. For years, Taylor stated she was crippled by severe PTSD and anxiety, too afraid to speak up.
The passage of California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act (AB 2777) in 2022 seemed like a potential lifeline. It opened a window for survivors to file claims which had long since expired. However, here’s where the legal system showed its cracks. AB 2777 was confusingly worded, primarily targeting business entities that “covered up” assaults, rather than the individuals who committed them.
This legal mire gave Tommy Lee’s lawyers the opening which they needed. They argued Taylor’s case didn’t meet the law’s narrow criteria for a “cover-up. The judge agreed, dismissing the lawsuit. Lee’s attorney smugly called it a “complete vindication,” leaving Taylor feeling punished for a crime she didn’t commit.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Victoria Valentino, a former Playboy model, used the same law to sue Bill Cosby for an alleged assault back in 1969. Her case was also dismissed on similar grounds. Even with these new laws meant to help survivors, the system was failing them.
A New Hope for Justice?
Just when it seems like all hope is gone, a new bill, AB 250, has emerged. This proposed legislation is now designed to fix the gaping holes from the previous law. If signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, it would create a new two-year window (from 2026 to 2027) for adult survivors of sexual assault to file civil lawsuits against their individual abusers, without the impossible burden of proving a “cover-up.”
This is a possible game-changer. It would allow survivors like Heather Evans Taylor and Victoria Valentino to refile their cases and then directly confront their alleged attackers in court. For Taylor, it means a chance to reclaim her narrative after being silenced and shamed online. “I dismissed the case so I could resume it later,” she stated, making it clear she’s not backing down. “I’m still planning on going full force into this so I can get some type of justice.”
Why This is So Incredibly Important Now
The battle for justice against powerful celebrities like Tommy Lee and Bill Cosby highlights a very disturbing reality: wealth and fame can often shield one from any accountability. These two particular men have long histories of accusations against them, yet they’ve frequently managed to sidestep any serious consequences. Cosby’s 2018 conviction was overturned, and Lee’s history is controversial.
AB 250 represents more than just another part of the legislation; it’s also a moral imperative. It signals that California is finally ready to prioritize the voices of sexual assault survivors over the reputations of powerful men. It additionally acknowledges that trauma does not have an expiration date – and that the path to healing may often requires a day in court.
As Taylor bravely puts it, “I’m speaking out on my behalf because nobody else will… It’s okay to come out and speak.” She courageously stated:
I felt silenced. I wanted people to know I’m real. I’m not this ghost.
Her fight, and Valentino’s, is a fight for every survivor who has been silenced, humiliated, disbelieved, or told their pain doesn’t matter. The fate of AB 250 now rests with Governor Newsom, and his decision will show whether California truly stands with survivors – or if the legal contortions will continue to let them down.
