Dominic Foppoli, the former mayor of Windsor, California, has been held civilly liable on Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting seven women. The jury ordered him to pay $13 million in compensatory damages. The payments to the women, who reported incidents from 2001 to 2020, range from $6,000 to $4,650,938 each, as reported by KTVU FOX 2. Additional punitive damages may be decided in the next phase of the trial starting Tuesday.
Foppoli has denied any wrongdoing and was not criminally charged. He resigned as mayor in May 2021 following allegations brought to light by the San Francisco Chronicle. Four women had initially accused him of sexual assault.
“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 stated during the trial.
The lawsuit, filed in April 2022, includes claims from seven Jane Does. Several accused Foppoli of drugging their drinks and assaulting them, while Jane Doe 1 reported that he raped her multiple times, including a handcuffing incident. Thirteen women have accused him of sexual misconduct according to the Chronicle.
The state attorney general’s office paused its criminal probe in 2024 due to insufficient evidence for charges not barred by the statute of limitations at that time.
The jury also found the Santa Rosa chapter of Active 20-30, a social club where Foppoli was a member, liable for Jane Doe 4’s assault, awarding her an extra $2 million. This woman accused Foppoli of assaulting her during a 2012 convention in Reno, Nevada, claiming the organization ignored her complaints.
Traci Carrillo, representing the plaintiffs, noted that media coverage by the San Francisco Chronicle gave voice to the victims. She stated, “Their trauma was real, and they were believed, not shamed or silenced in the courtroom,” and emphasized the importance of accountability.
Andrew Watters, Foppoli’s attorney, announced plans to seek a mistrial due to alleged exclusion of defense witnesses. If that fails, he intends to file an appeal. He criticized the verdict, attributing it to “questionable self-reported evidence and junk science.” Watters believes the jury’s emotion influenced the large damages awarded.
Outside the courthouse, Foppoli claimed his accusers were pursuing financial gain, saying, “they are trying to crucify me for a cause I’m not responsible for.” He also faces another lawsuit from Farrah Abraham, who claims he raped her at a Florida party in 2021. That case is set for trial next year. Additionally, Foppoli’s winery settled a separate lawsuit with a Montana woman alleging assaults in 2020 when she was 18.
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