Former Mayor Found Liable for Sexual Assault

A former Democratic mayor from a small town in northern California was deemed civilly liable on Friday for sexually assaulting seven women.

Dominic Foppoli, who served as mayor of Windsor from late 2018 until 2021, has been ordered to pay a total of $13 million in compensatory damages. The amounts awarded to the women, who brought forth allegations ranging from 2001 to 2020, will vary, with payouts between $6,000 and $4,650,938 each.

There is a possibility that he may also need to pay punitive damages, with that segment of the civil trial set to commence on Tuesday.

Foppoli has consistently maintained his innocence and has never faced any criminal charges related to the allegations. He resigned as mayor in May 2021 following accusations from four women who came forward to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The lawsuit, initiated in April 2022, recounted claims from several Jane Does. Some of the women alleged that Foppoli drugged their drinks before assaulting them, while one woman testified that he had raped her multiple times, including one incident where she claimed he had her handcuffed to a bed.

According to reports, a total of 13 women have accused Foppoli of sexual assault or misconduct.

In 2024, the state attorney general’s office decided to suspend its criminal investigation into Foppoli, citing insufficient evidence to file charges in cases that hadn’t exceeded the statute of limitations.

During the civil trial, which kicked off in July, Foppoli once again denied the allegations. He did admit, however, to being “a terrible boyfriend and partner—cheating, selfish, and egotistical” but insisted he had never committed the acts he was being sued for.

The jury found that the Santa Rosa chapter of Active 20-30, a male charitable social organization of which Foppoli was a member, was also liable for one woman’s claimed assault, awarding her an additional $2 million.

One of the plaintiffs alleged that Foppoli sexually assaulted her during the national Active 20-30 convention held in Reno, Nevada, in June 2012, and accused the organization of neglecting her complaints.

Traci Carrillo, representing the plaintiffs, viewed the verdict as a significant validation for the women, emphasizing the struggles they faced in overcoming trauma and shame to achieve justice.

Foppoli’s attorney announced intentions to seek a mistrial, claiming that key witnesses for the defense were improperly excluded. He also mentioned plans to pursue an appeal if the mistrial request is denied.

In a statement, Foppoli argued that the jury’s decision stemmed from “questionable self-reported evidence” and expressed his belief that it seemed the jury’s sentiments were swayed by the trial’s emotional evidence.

Outside the courthouse, Foppoli asserted that his accusers are trying to “crucify” him for reasons he believes he’s not responsible for, insinuating that their motivations might be intertwined with the financial implications of the verdict.

He is also facing a separate lawsuit from Farrah Abraham, a social media influencer who alleges that Foppoli raped her in March 2021 at a house party in Florida. This civil case is anticipated to go to trial next year.

Additionally, it’s noted that Foppoli’s winery, Christopher Creek Winery, resolved a different lawsuit brought by a Montana woman who accused him of raping her multiple times in 2020 when she was 18.