GRAHAM BOWLEY

A Pennsylvania appeals court Monday blocked Bill Cosby’s effort to have criminal sexual assault charges against him thrown out, opening the way for the case to proceed.

The sexual assault case against Bill Cosby can proceed, a judge ruled Wednesday, saying that prosecutors are not bound by a predecessor’s decision 11 years ago not to charge Cosby in the case of a young Temple University staff member who said the entertainer had drugged and molested her at his suburban Philadelphia home.

Demonstrating that he is still prepared to fight, Bill Cosby struck back Monday against seven of the women who have accused him of sexual assault and defamation by, in turn, suing them for defamation and denying their allegations.