Appeals court temporarily halts upcoming Cosby deposition

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A California appeals court on Thursday temporarily halted an order requiring Bill Cosby and his former attorney to give sworn testimony in a defamation lawsuit filed by model Janice Dickinson.

The order Thursday by the 2nd District Court of Appeal puts plans to depose the comedian and his longtime attorney on hold. The depositions were ordered to occur this month by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Nov. 2, but Cosby's attorneys appealed and the appellate court wants legal briefs filed by the end of the month.

An email message sent to Cosby's lawyers was not immediately returned.

"We are confident that once the Court of Appeals hears full argument on the issues it will allow the deposition of Mr. Cosby and his attorney to go forward," Dickinson's attorney Lisa Bloom wrote in an email.

Dickinson is suing Cosby for defamation over denials over her claims that she was drugged raped by the comedian in in 1982. Cosby's lawyers want the case dismissed, but a judge ordered the depositions so Dickinson's lawyers can properly oppose the motion.

She sued Cosby in May, claiming she has been re-victimized and her reputation has suffered because of pointed denials by Cosby's attorney, Martin Singer, that the comedian drugged and raped her in a Lake Tahoe, California, hotel room more than 30 years ago.

Dickinson never reported the rape to authorities and has said she was afraid if she did that her career would be damaged and Cosby would retaliate.

Cosby, 78, has never been charged with a crime and has denied allegations that he drugged and sexually assaulted women.

On Thursday, Drexel and Bryant universities announced that they have rescinded honorary degrees given to Cosby in light of numerous accusations of sexual misconduct by dozens of women.