Former California Mayor Found Liable in Sexual Assault Case
Dominic Foppoli, ex-mayor of Windsor, California, was found civilly liable on Friday for alleged sexual assaults against seven women. The court ordered him to pay $13 million in compensatory damages. Payments will vary from $6,000 to $4,650,938, per KTVU FOX 2.
The possibility of punitive damages remains. This phase of the trial starts Tuesday. Although Foppoli denied all wrongdoing, he stepped down in May 2021 after allegations surfaced. He has not faced criminal charges.
Foppoli stated during his testimony, “I’ve been a terrible boyfriend and partner, cheating, selfish and egotistical, but I’ve never done any of those things I’m being sued for.”
A lawsuit filed in April 2022 detailed accusations from seven women. Some claim Foppoli drugged their drinks, while Jane Doe 1 stated he raped her multiple times. Allegations from 13 women have been reported in total.
In 2024, the state attorney general halted a criminal investigation due to insufficient evidence. The civil trial began in July. Foppoli reiterated his denial of the accusations.
Foppoli and the Santa Rosa chapter of Active 20-30, a male-only club, were held liable for one woman’s alleged assault. She received an extra $2 million. This incident allegedly occurred during a 2012 convention in Reno, Nevada.
Attorney Traci Carrillo, representing the plaintiffs, stated, “It took over 5 years to get them justice, which was always about accountability. Their trauma was real, and they were believed, not shamed or silenced in the courtroom.”
Foppoli’s lawyer, Andrew Watters, expressed plans to seek a mistrial, citing the exclusion of key witnesses. If this fails, an appeal will be pursued.
Watters commented, “What happened with the verdict was that the jury sent a message based on questionable self-reported evidence and junk science.”
Foppoli faces a separate lawsuit from Farrah Abraham, who alleged he raped her in March 2021. This case is expected to proceed next year. Additionally, Christopher Creek Winery settled a case with a Montana woman accusing Foppoli of multiple rapes in 2020.