Dominic Foppoli, the former Democratic mayor of Windsor, California, has been found civilly liable for the alleged sexual assaults of seven women and ordered to pay $13 million in compensatory damages.
The verdict came Friday after a civil trial detailing allegations that spanned from 2001 to 2020. The payouts to the women, identified as Jane Does in the lawsuit, will range from $6,000 to over $4.6 million each. A punitive damages phase of the trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday.
Foppoli, who served as mayor from late 2018 to 2021, has consistently denied all wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged in connection with the allegations. He resigned as mayor in May 2021 after four women publicly accused him of sexual assault.
The lawsuit, filed in April 2022, included claims that Foppoli drugged drinks before assaults. One accuser alleged she was raped multiple times by Foppoli, including an incident where she claimed he handcuffed her to a bed. According to reports, a total of 13 women have accused Foppoli of sexual assault or misconduct.
In 2024, the California Attorney General's office suspended its criminal investigation, citing insufficient evidence for charges not already barred by the statute of limitations. Foppoli testified during the civil trial, which began in July, reiterating his denial of the allegations.
"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 on the stand.
In addition to the damages awarded to the seven women, the jury also found the Santa Rosa chapter of Active 20-30, a social club where Foppoli was a member, liable for an alleged assault on one of the plaintiffs. That woman was awarded an additional $2 million. She accused Foppoli of sexual assault during a national convention in Reno, Nevada, in June 2012 and claimed the organization failed to investigate her complaints.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs described the verdict as a validation for the women, who they said had to overcome trauma and shame to seek justice. Foppoli's attorney indicated plans to seek a mistrial or pursue an appeal, arguing that the jury's decision was based on questionable evidence and potentially inflamed by personal animosity toward his client.
Foppoli, speaking outside the courthouse, suggested his accusers were motivated by financial gain. He also faces a separate civil lawsuit from Farrah Abraham, a reality television personality who alleges Foppoli raped her in March 2021. That case is expected to go to trial next year.
Additionally, Christopher Creek Winery, an establishment owned by Foppoli, settled a separate lawsuit with a Montana woman who accused him of rape in 2020.