Seven Women Crush Powerful Mayor

Judge writing at desk with gavel and Lady Justice statue — Photo: sebra / Shutterstock

A Sonoma County jury ordered former Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli to pay about $13 million after finding him liable for sexually assaulting seven women in a civil trial, a stark verdict where criminal charges were never filed.

Story Highlights

Jury found Foppoli liable for sexually assaulting seven women and awarded about $13 million.
All seven plaintiffs sued together in Sonoma County Superior Court as Jane Does.
Prosecutors declined criminal charges earlier, citing insufficient evidence.
Foppoli denies all wrongdoing and plans to appeal.

What The Jury Decided And The Money At Stake

A Sonoma County civil jury unanimously found Dominic Foppoli liable for sexually assaulting seven women and set total damages at roughly $13 million. Local outlets reported the award ranged around $12.6 to $13 million, with the largest share going to one plaintiff. The verdict came after weeks of testimony and cross-examination. Jurors weighed the case under the civil standard, which asks if claims are more likely true than not. Defense counsel said they would appeal.

The seven plaintiffs filed a joint suit in Sonoma County Superior Court in 2022. Their complaint said Foppoli used his status, connections, and alcohol to prey on women, and used threats to silence them. The case described assaults that allegedly occurred after each woman turned eighteen. Court filings show key claims like sexual assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress survived defense attempts to knock them out before trial.

Key Testimony And Evidence Presented At Trial

Trial coverage described testimony from multiple Jane Does. Jane Doe 1 said an assault occurred in 2001 when she and Foppoli were both eighteen and dating. Jane Doe 7 alleged a 2020 drugging and assault while both served on the Windsor Town Council. Reporting said plaintiff lawyers pointed to documentary evidence from Foppoli’s phone and a pattern across the accounts. Some testimony occurred in closed court, limiting public access to full details.

Foppoli took the stand and denied every allegation. He told jurors the encounters either did not happen or were consensual. He denied ever drugging anyone or having non-consensual sex. His lawyer argued the case depended on seven self-reported accounts and said people can be sincere yet mistaken. Foppoli has claimed politics drove the accusations. The jury’s verdict indicates it found the women more credible under the civil standard.

Why A Civil Verdict Landed When Criminal Charges Did Not

The California Attorney General declined to bring criminal charges earlier, citing insufficient evidence under the higher criminal standard. Civil trials require a lower burden of proof and allow different evidentiary rules, so plaintiffs can win damages even when no prosecutor files a case. That gap frustrates people across the political spectrum who see powerful figures avoid criminal trials while victims turn to civil court for accountability.

A former Democrat mayor just got slapped with a $13 million civil verdict and never spent a day facing criminal charges.

Dominic Foppoli ran Windsor, California until he resigned in 2021. On Friday a Sonoma County jury found him liable for sexually assaulting seven women. The… pic.twitter.com/psxMpdaFm4

— Arkadalo® (@Arkadalo) September 12, 2026

This verdict also taps broader concerns about trust in institutions. Voters on the right and left worry the system protects insiders while regular people face a different set of rules. Here, a jury heard seven women and ruled against a once-powerful mayor after years of delay. Yet the lack of criminal charges, partial courtroom closures, and limited public access to exhibits still leave many asking how the justice system weighs truth, power, and proof.

What Comes Next And What To Watch

Defense attorneys said they will appeal and file more motions. Appeals can cut or reshape damages, or test legal rulings made before and during trial. The public record does not yet show the jury’s detailed findings for each claim. If appeals proceed, transcripts, exhibits, and any released records could clarify which evidence carried the most weight. Until then, the civil judgment stands, and collection efforts could begin while the legal fight continues.