Janice Dickinson case against Bill Cosby can proceed to court

Janice Dickinson's case against Bill Cosby can proceed to court, a judge has ruled.

The model claims the comedian drugged and raped her in the US in 1982.

Cosby has previously denied the allegations and will have several chances to challenge the case before it goes to court.

Dozens of women have come forward accusing Cosby, now 78, of sexual abuse dating back to the 1960s.

But in most cases too much time has now passed for him to be tried.

Speaking after the ruling, Dickinson, who is billed as the world's first supermodel, called it a victory for all women.

She said: "I want Bill Cosby in court. I want him to stand under oath. I will not go down."

Dickinson's case will be tried by a jury but is a defamation lawsuit rather than a criminal case.

The only criminal charges brought against Cosby are by a former employee who claims he sexually assaulted her in his Philadelphia home in 2004.

He is currently free on $1 million bail while the case is on hold pending an appeal.