Bill Cosby has lost a bid to fend off a lawsuit accusing him of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl at the Playboy Mansion in 1974.
Judy Huth, now in her 50s, is one of more than 40 women who have come forward in the past year to say they were raped or molested by the 78-year-old performer.
The Californian Supreme Court has ruled the lawsuit can go to a full hearing.
"We are looking forward to Mr Cosby answering questions under oath at his deposition," says Gloria Allread, the accuser's attorney. "It's a very big victory."
Los Angeles County prosecutors declined to bring a criminal case against Cosby over Huth's allegations last year, saying the matter dated back too far under California's stature of limitations.
The Cosby Show star's attorneys had previously sought dismissal of Huth's lawsuit on procedural grounds, arguing that she lacked certification from a mental health professional to support the claims. They also claim Huth only sued Cosby after she failed to extort money from him to buy her silence.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled against Cosby, and a state appeals court refused to hear the case in May. Earlier this week, the state Supreme Court did the same, which leaves Cosby no further legal recourse for blocking the lawsuit.
There was no immediate response from Cosby or his lawyers, who have consistently denied allegations of sexual misconduct lodged against the comedian.
Cosby has never been charged.
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