Playboy founder Hugh Hefner accused of enabling Bill Cosby in sexual abuse lawsuit

A one-time model who publicly accused Bill Cosby of sexually abusing her at the Playboy Mansion has now sued Hugh Hefner, alleging the Playboy founder was part of a conspiracy to ignore the entertainer’s behavior.

Chloe Goins contends that Hefner enabled Cosby’s alleged abuse, claiming that he knew or should have known that Cosby had drugged and sexually abused women, according to her lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Goins said she was sexually abused in a bedroom at the Playboy Mansion sometime in 2008, the lawsuit stated.

Cosby “over the years had a propensity for intoxicating or drugging young women and taking advantage of them sexually and against their will or while they were unconscious,” according to the complaint.

The 78-year-old comedian is currently facing a dozen lawsuits related to alleged sex acts with women, and criminal charges are pending in Pennsylvania. More than 50 women have come forward with allegations that Cosby sexually abused them during his more than four decades in entertainment.

Goins, who turned 26 Tuesday, alleged that the comedian spiked her drink while both were at a party held in the mansion, according to the lawsuit. Goins claimed she passed out and recalled Cosby sucking or licking her toes, then pulling up his pants before leaving the room, according to the suit.

Her attorney, Spencer Kuvin, said the alleged abuse occurred in 2008. Goins said she did not report the incident to police on the advice of a friend, according to the lawsuit. Los Angeles County prosecutors declined last year to file charges against Cosby, citing insufficient evidence to corroborate her story and a statute of limitations on charges.

None of the attorneys representing Hefner or Cosby responded to calls seeking comment.

When allegations initially emerged that incidents allegedly occurred at the famous Holmby Hills estate, Hefner said in a statement, “I would never tolerate this kind of behavior, regardless of who was involved.”

Goins had sued Cosby in federal court last year but dropped the case in February. The model is seeking damages for battery, gender violence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Another woman, Judy Huth, has sued Cosby and alleged he molested her at the Playboy Mansion around 1974. At the time of the alleged abuse, Huth was 15 years old.

Huth’s attorney, Gloria Allred, has deposed Cosby and has said she also wants to depose Hefner in the litigation.

In the Pennsylvania case, Cosby is charged with sexually assaulting a former Temple University employee in 2004. Cosby’s attorneys have claimed that a prior prosecutor in Montgomery County gave him immunity.