A California jury found former Windsor mayor Dominic Foppoli civilly liable for alleged sexual assaults involving seven women and ordered him to pay a combined $13 million in compensatory damages. The allegations span from 2001 to 2020, and individual awards range from $6,000 to $4,650,938. A separate phase concerning possible punitive damages is scheduled to begin Tuesday. Foppoli has denied wrongdoing, has not been criminally charged in connection with the allegations, and says his attorneys will seek a mistrial or appeal.
The verdict followed a civil trial that began in July at the Sonoma County Civil and Family Law Courthouse in Santa Rosa. Jurors also found the Santa Rosa chapter of Active 20-30 liable for one woman’s alleged assault and awarded her an additional $2 million.
| 1) | Jury verdict and financial awards |
| 2) | Allegations and civil case timeline |
| 3) | Defense response and legal status |
| 4) | Active 20-30 liability and related claims |
| 5) | Next steps and broader legal consequences |
Jury verdict and financial awards
The jury returned its verdict Friday, September 12, 2026, in Sonoma County, California. It found Dominic Foppoli civilly liable in claims brought by seven women and awarded them a combined $13 million in compensatory damages. The individual payments range from $6,000 to $4,650,938, reflecting the jury’s separate assessment of the claims.
The verdict concerns civil responsibility rather than criminal guilt. The court is expected to hear arguments and evidence on punitive damages beginning Tuesday. Those damages, if awarded, would be separate from the compensatory damages intended to address losses and harm identified in the civil case.
Allegations and civil case timeline
The lawsuit was filed in April 2022 by seven plaintiffs identified as Jane Does. Their allegations cover conduct said to have occurred between 2001 and 2020. Several women alleged that Foppoli drugged their drinks before assaults, while Jane Doe 1 alleged repeated rape, including an incident in which she said she was handcuffed to a bed.
The civil trial began in July 2026 at the Sonoma County Civil and Family Law Courthouse in Santa Rosa. Foppoli, who served as mayor of Windsor from late 2018 until 2021, testified and denied the allegations. He resigned as mayor in May 2021 after four women publicly accused him of sexual assault.
Defense response and legal status
The former mayor has consistently denied wrongdoing and has never been criminally charged in connection with the allegations. In 2024, the California attorney general’s office suspended its criminal investigation, stating that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to file charges in cases that were not barred by the statute of limitations at that time.
Andrew Watters, Foppoli’s attorney, said he would seek a mistrial, arguing that the court improperly excluded key defense witnesses. If that effort fails, he said the defense would pursue an appeal.
“What happened with the verdict was that the jury sent a message based on questionable self-reported evidence and junk science, and that’s not appropriate,” Andrew Watters said. “It appears the passions of the jury were inflamed by the evidence, and they hated my client, so they made a very large award to punish and make an example of him.”
Speaking outside the courthouse after the verdict, Dominic Foppoli said his accusers were seeking to “crucify” him and suggested they were motivated by the $13 million award.
Active 20-30 liability and related claims
The jury separately found the Santa Rosa chapter of Active 20-30, an all-male charitable social club where Foppoli was a member, liable for Jane Doe 4’s alleged assault. The jury awarded that plaintiff an additional $2 million.
According to the lawsuit, the alleged assault occurred during the national Active 20-30 convention in Reno, Nevada, in June 2012. The woman also alleged that she reported concerns to leaders of the organization and that the group failed to investigate them. The case is part of a wider set of allegations, with 13 women reported to have accused Foppoli of sexual assault or misconduct.
Next steps and broader legal consequences
The immediate next step in the case is the punitive damages phase, scheduled to start Tuesday. The defense may also ask the trial court to overturn or revisit the verdict before pursuing an appeal. The outcome of those proceedings could affect the final financial liability.
Foppoli also faces a separate civil lawsuit filed by Farrah Abraham, a social media influencer and former reality television personality. Abraham alleges that Foppoli raped her at a house party in Palm Beach, Florida, in March 2021. That case is expected to go to trial next year, according to court records. A separate lawsuit by a Montana woman who alleged that Foppoli raped her multiple times in 2020, when she was 18, was settled by Christopher Creek Winery, which Foppoli owns.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | A jury found Dominic Foppoli civilly liable in claims brought by seven women. |
| 2 | The women received a combined $13 million in compensatory damages. |
| 3 | Punitive damages will be considered in a later phase of the trial. |
| 4 | Active 20-30 was found liable for one alleged assault and faced an additional $2 million award. |
Summary
The verdict establishes civil liability against a former northern California mayor after a jury considered allegations from seven women. While Foppoli continues to deny the claims and plans to challenge the result, the case now moves to punitive damages proceedings and possible appellate review. Separate civil litigation involving other allegations remains pending or unresolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the jury decide?
The jury found Dominic Foppoli civilly liable in claims involving seven women and awarded a combined $13 million in compensatory damages.
Has Dominic Foppoli been criminally charged?
No. He has not been criminally charged in connection with these allegations. The state attorney general’s office suspended its criminal investigation in 2024 after determining there was insufficient evidence to file charges in the cases still eligible for prosecution at that time.
What happens next in the case?
The court is scheduled to begin the punitive damages phase Tuesday. Foppoli’s attorney has also said he will seek a mistrial and, if unsuccessful, pursue an appeal.
