Bill Cosby on his sexual encounters: 'I'm a pretty decent reader of people'

NEW YORK, July 19 (UPI) -- A 2005 deposition for a lawsuit suggests embattled entertainer Bill Cosby thinks of himself as a great lover and not a sexual predator.

Dozens of women have come forward to allege the long-married Cosby drugged and raped them in the past. Although no criminal charges have been lodged against him and the statute of limitations is up for the alleged cases, Cosby has seen his brand severely damaged by the claims.

The New York Times obtained and reviewed legal documents compiled during a four-day period more than a decade ago and published its findings in Saturday's edition.

While Cosby denies he abused those who approached him because they were enamored by his fame or looking for career advice, he admitted with casual indifference that he routinely used his celebrity status, caring image and sedatives to seduce women, the newspaper said.

Cosby also said while giving the deposition that he is adept at understanding the nonverbal cues that signal a woman wants to have sex with him.

"I think I'm a pretty decent reader of people and their emotions in these romantic, sexual things, whatever you want to call them," he said.

The Times quoted Dolores M. Troiani -- the lawyer for the plaintiff, a basketball manager at Temple University -- as admonishing Cosby for his nonchalent demeanor in discussing his treatment of women.

"I think you're making light of a very serious situation," she said.

"That may very well be," Cosby replied.

This particular case -- in which the woman said Cosby drugged and sexually abused her -- was settled in 2006.