A Los Angeles Superior Court jury on Tuesday awarded Gucci heiress Alexandra Zarini $115 million after finding her former stepfather, Joseph Ruffalo, liable for sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress for abuse she says began when she was six years old.
The 12-person jury in Department 57 deliberated for two hours and 40 minutes before delivering a unanimous verdict. Zarini, 40, who is a handbag designer and children’s advocate, was in the courtroom as the decision was read and was seen wiping away a tear while seated beside her husband.
Zarini brought the civil suit against Ruffalo, 85, in 2020 after she said she discovered his LinkedIn profile indicating he volunteered at a children’s hospital. She testified in court that the abuse began when she was six and continued for years. During the trial, Zarini told Ruffalo directly on the witness stand that she wished she had had the strength to retaliate on behalf of a sibling she said was also abused.
The case, which has strained relations among descendants of the Gucci fashion family, prompted Zarini’s mother, Patricia Gucci, to file for divorce from Ruffalo in 2007 after her daughter came forward with allegations. Zarini’s sister, Victoria Gucci-Losio, testified during the trial that she too was molested as a child and said the accusations contributed to a long estrangement between the siblings. The sisters had not spoken since the lawsuit was filed but partially reconciled during the proceedings, court testimony showed.
Zarini’s attorney, Gary Dordick, called the verdict a "landmark" ruling and said all monies recovered from Ruffalo will be used to "protect children." Juror foreman Leo Lych told the Daily Mail that Zarini’s testimony was "very convincing." After the verdict, Zarini told the publication she was "extremely grateful" and described the trial as "really hard, scary, painful."
Ruffalo was represented by attorney Donna Rotunno, who has previously defended high-profile clients. Rotunno told the Daily Mail that defending an elderly client in a decades-old allegation was difficult and said she believes reforms are needed in how such cases are allowed to proceed. "I don't think it's right to have to defend yourself after 20, 25, 30 years," she said.
Zarini’s lawyers told the court that she had reported the assaults to three police agencies in the United States and the United Kingdom but that authorities took no action. The civil verdict does not constitute a criminal conviction; prosecutors did not pursue criminal charges in the matter, according to court records and testimony presented at trial.
Testimony and documents presented during the proceedings outlined family disputes that followed the initial allegations. Patricia Gucci, 62, and other relatives were drawn into the litigation and media attention surrounding the case. Defense attorneys questioned some family members about discrepancies in their accounts, and the trial revealed deep divisions among descendants of the Gucci family.
The civil award includes damages for emotional distress and other harms alleged by Zarini; her attorneys said she plans to use any recovered funds to support child-protection causes. The verdict marks a rare and high-profile civil finding of liability in a case involving historical allegations of sexual abuse within a prominent family, and it may prompt renewed public and legal attention to how such claims are investigated and adjudicated.
Court records show the jury was composed of six men and six women. The decision ends the civil portion of the dispute between Zarini and Ruffalo; any appeals or motions to alter the jury’s award could follow, according to legal analysts familiar with similar cases.
The case drew national attention because of the Gucci family name and the seriousness of the allegations. Zarini, who has worked as a designer and advocate for children, said during trial that she pursued the lawsuit both to seek justice for herself and to prevent further access to children by her former stepfather. Ruffalo has denied wrongdoing in prior statements through counsel, and his legal team contested Zarini’s claims during the trial.