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 a child.
The 12-member jury — six men and six women — deliberated for two hours and 40 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict in Department 57. Zarini, 40, a handbag designer and children's advocate, sat in the public gallery alongside her husband and was seen wiping a tear as the verdict was read.
Zarini testified that the abuse began when she was about six years old and continued for years, becoming more frequent after she turned nine. She told the court that she reported assaults to three police agencies in the United States and the United Kingdom but that investigators took no action. According to court testimony, Zarini filed the civil suit after seeing Ruffalo's LinkedIn profile announcing volunteer work at a children's hospital; she testified she pursued the case to "seek justice and to stand up to my abuser."
The trial exposed deep divisions within descendants of the Gucci family. Zarini's mother, Patricia Gucci, filed for divorce from Ruffalo in 2007 after Zarini first reported the alleged abuse, court records show. Zarini's sister, Victoria Gucci-Losio, 35, who has worked part time for their mother's company and lives in Milan, testified during the trial that she too was molested by Ruffalo as a child. Victoria told attorneys she remembered him entering her darkened bedroom when she was about four.
Zarini's lead attorney, Gary Dordick, called the verdict a "landmark" ruling and said Zarini intends to donate any monies collected from Ruffalo to organizations that protect children. Dordick described the outcome as vindication for his client and praised the jurors for their deliberations.
Ruffalo, 85, was represented by attorney Donna Rotunno, who has previously led high-profile defenses. Rotunno told reporters that defending against allegations from decades earlier is difficult and said she believes there should be reforms in how such cases are handled, noting the challenges of litigating claims that arise many years after the alleged events.
Jury foreman Leo Lych, speaking after the verdict, said Zarini's testimony was "very convincing," according to accounts from those present.
The civil verdict does not equate to a criminal conviction. Court filings and testimony indicate Zarini reported the alleged abuse to law enforcement in multiple jurisdictions but that no criminal charges were brought prior to the civil trial. The lawsuit sought damages for sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress; the jury awarded $115 million in total damages.
The case drew widespread attention because of the Gucci family name and the dramatic personal testimony presented at trial, including testimony that Zarini's experiences affected her later relationships. Zarini said she developed trust issues with older men and that, when younger, she felt safer dating women.
During the proceedings, the family said relationships were strained for years. Zarini and her sister had not spoken since the suit was filed in 2020 but had limited contact during the trial. Attorneys and family members described the litigation as a catalyst for a long-standing rift that only partially eased while the case was being heard.
The jury's award and the trial's details are likely to reverberate within discussions about civil remedies for historic abuse claims and the challenges victims face in seeking accountability when alleged misconduct occurred decades earlier. Zarini's lawyers said she will continue advocacy work on child protection, and the parties may address enforcement of the civil judgment and any appeals in the coming months.