Ex-Mayor Ordered To Pay $13 Million

A California jury found a former mayor liable for sexually assaulting seven women and ordered about $13 million in damages — after the state declined to bring criminal charges.

Story Snapshot

A Sonoma County jury unanimously found Dominic Foppoli liable for seven assaults and awarded about $13 million.
Jurors deliberated for over a week after a multi-week trial with dozens of witnesses.
The California Attorney General declined criminal charges earlier, citing insufficient evidence for that standard.
Foppoli denied all wrongdoing and said any encounters were consensual.

Unanimous Civil Verdict And Major Damages

On September 11, a Sonoma County civil jury found former Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli liable for sexually assaulting seven women. The jury awarded roughly $13 million in compensatory damages. Reporters at the courthouse said the 12 jurors, six men and six women, reached a unanimous verdict after more than a week of deliberations. The award signals that jurors believed the plaintiffs by the civil “more likely than not” standard, which is lower than the criminal standard.

The case stems from a joint lawsuit filed in April 2022 in Sonoma County Superior Court. The complaint alleged sexual assault and battery and related claims by seven women. Trial coverage reported testimony about incidents over many years, including alleged intoxication, blackouts, groping, and rape. Plaintiffs’ counsel said documentary evidence pulled from Foppoli’s phone helped show a pattern across incidents, which they called a “serial pattern of predation”.

What The Jury Heard Inside The Courtroom

Local outlets reported that the court heard from about 35 witnesses for the plaintiffs and about 25 for the defense before the case went to the jury. One woman alleged a 2012 assault after drinking wine Foppoli offered in a Reno hotel room, while another alleged a 2020 drugging and assault after a crab-feed fundraiser. Jurors also heard that a social club connected to Foppoli shared some liability for one incident and was ordered to pay $2 million.

Foppoli took the stand and denied every accusation. He told jurors he has never drugged a woman and never had non-consensual sex. He described some encounters as “flirty” and “sweet,” and said any sexual activity was consensual. Reporters noted that defense arguments framed the dispute as one of credibility and memory, suggesting that people can be sincere yet mistaken. Jurors weighed these claims against the plaintiffs’ testimony and the phone evidence.

Why No Criminal Charges, But A Civil Win?

The California Attorney General’s office previously declined to file criminal charges, saying the evidence did not meet the higher criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The civil verdict operates on a different standard. In civil court, jurors decide if a claim is more likely true than not. That gap explains how prosecutors can pass on charges while a civil jury still finds liability and awards damages.

A Sonoma County jury on Friday delivered a unanimous civil verdict against former Windsor, California, Mayor Dominic Foppoli, finding him liable for sexually assaulting seven women and ordering him to pay more than $13 million in compensatory damages.

Link in the comments. pic.twitter.com/7tEkEJbfDW

— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) September 14, 2026

This split outcome feeds a larger public worry: powerful people often avoid criminal accountability while victims chase justice in civil court. Many Americans on both the right and the left see a system that is slow, confusing, and inconsistent. This case shows how the process can stretch over years, involve many witnesses, and still leave mixed signals. A civil verdict brings consequences, but it is not the same as a criminal conviction with prison time.

What Comes Next For The Parties And The Community

Post-trial motions and potential appeals could follow, and any punitive damages phase could add new details from exhibits or testimony. Juror interviews, if any emerge, may show which evidence persuaded them most. The record suggests phone data helped the plaintiffs argue a pattern. But the public still lacks the full transcript and exhibit list, which limits outside review of the exact proof for each incident.

For Windsor and Sonoma County, the verdict pressures civic groups and local leaders to set higher standards. The jury’s finding that a club shared liability in one incident raises questions about oversight and culture. Communities want clear rules, faster answers, and fair outcomes. Restoring trust means showing that rules apply to everyone, not just those without money, status, or connections.