Bill Cosby's motion in defamation case is partially granted

Springfield - Bill Cosby's effort to put a Massachusetts defamation lawsuit against him on hold until his Pennsylvania criminal case is resolved has been partially granted.

A US District Court judge says discovery addressed to Cosby in the Massachusetts case is stayed but the case isn't stayed in any other respect. He says Cosby's motion is allowed in part and denied in part.

The judge said in a ruling issued on Monday he's blocking discovery addressed to Cosby to avoid the "precarious dilemma" of Cosby having to choose whether to assert his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and put himself at a disadvantage in the Massachusetts case or waive that privilege and possibly incriminate himself in the Pennsylvania case.

Both cases involve women who've accused Cosby of sexual misconduct. Cosby denies their allegations.