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Bill Cosby Wants Court Records Sealed In Defamation Lawsuit

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Bill Cosby's lawyers want materials gathered in a civil defamation lawsuit filed by seven women who claim Cosby sexually assaulted them decades ago kept out of the public eye.

A federal magistrate in Massachusetts will hear arguments Wednesday on a confidentiality agreement proposed by lawyers for Cosby, who denies the allegations.

It calls for documents produced during the pre-trial discovery phase to remain confidential for 14 days. Either side could then request the records be sealed longer. The records would remain sealed until the judge decides on the extension.

Cosby's lawyers say the plaintiffs have sought "invasive and intimate details" about the actor's medical and sexual history.

Lawyers for the women say they have valid reasons for the requests and that sealing documents would violate the public's right to transparent judicial proceedings.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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