SANTA ROSA, Calif. — A jury in Santa Rosa has found former Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli liable for the sexual assault of seven women, ordering him to pay approximately $13 million in compensatory damages. The verdict marks a significant turning point in a years-long legal saga involving allegations that span nearly two decades.
The civil trial, which concluded after more than a week of deliberations, resulted in a unanimous decision from the 12-member jury. Under civil law, a consensus of nine jurors was sufficient to reach a verdict. In addition to the damages assessed against the former mayor, the jury held the Santa Rosa chapter of the Active 20-30 Club—a social organization to which Foppoli belonged—liable for one of the assaults, ordering the group to pay $2 million in compensatory damages.
The seven plaintiffs, identified in court documents as Jane Does, brought the lawsuit after two separate criminal investigations into the allegations were suspended by authorities, who cited a lack of sufficient evidence to pursue charges. Because Foppoli was never criminally charged, this civil trial served as the first legal venue where his accusers could present their accounts under oath.
Throughout the proceedings, Foppoli maintained his innocence. He took the witness stand in his own defense, categorically rejecting the women’s claims. While he admitted to what he termed “past personal failings”—describing himself as “selfish and egotistical” in his romantic relationships—he testified that he never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity. He told the jury that the alleged encounters were either entirely fabricated or consensual.
“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,” Foppoli testified.
The trial featured emotional testimony from the plaintiffs, detailing disturbing encounters. One accuser, identified as Jane Doe No. 2, testified that the abuse began when she was 18 and volunteering for Foppoli’s 2003 State Assembly campaign. Another, Jane Doe No. 3, described a harrowing incident in which she believed she was sharing a cab with Foppoli to a safe place, only to be groped in his home, eventually forcing her to lock herself in a bathroom to escape.
Foppoli consistently denied these accounts under cross-examination, disputing the claims of non-consent and intimidation.
The legal fallout from the case is not yet complete. A hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday to determine whether punitive damages will be added to the compensatory awards already granted by the jury. The substantial financial penalty reflects the severity of the findings, as one victim alone was awarded $4.6 million.
As of now, the former mayor, who has previously considered a return to public office, faces a significant judgment that brings a measure of legal resolution to the women who have accused him of misconduct for years.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
