Discovery Referee Appointed for Alleged Sexual Predator Foppoli as He Ponders 2026 Mayoral Run
Amidst alleged sexual assault lawsuits, former Windsor Town Mayor Dominic Foppoli is considering returning to Windsor, CA to run for Mayor in 2026.
On April 4, 2022 a civil case was filed by Doe #1, Jane, Doe #2, Jane, Doe #3, Jane et al. represented by Carrillo, Traci Lewis, against Active 20-30 Us & Canada, Foppoli, Dominic, Santa Rosa Active 20-30 #50 Foundation, Two Kings Wine Company, LLC, and Two Kings Wine Company, LLP, represented by Hamant, Candice Nguyen, Holder, James Kenneth, Minioza, Joseph Jonathan, Watters, Andrew George, and Zimmerman, Michael C, in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge English, Kenneth G. presiding.
Plaintiffs hereby rejected all three proposed discovery facilitators Steven Finell, Benjamin Karpilow, and Helen Marsh on the ground that the Court is going to appoint a discovery referee to make findings related to the pending discovery motions.
On March 25, 2025, Plaintiffs filed a Motion Requesting the Court to Appoint Discovery Referee. On April 11, 2025, during the hearing on defendant Dominic Foppoli’s Motion to Continue Trial, the Court advised that a discovery referee would be appointed and ordered the parties to meet and confer to try to agree upon a referee.
The parties have narrowed down the choice of discovery referee to two potential candidates. The parties will be submitting a Joint Statement Following Meet and Confer Re Discovery Referee on May 2, 2025, per the Court’s order, to ask the Court to make the final decision on who will be appointed. Since there will be a referee making determinations regarding the pending discovery motions filed by Plaintiffs and defendant Dominic Foppoli, a discovery facilitator should not be appointed.
On May 2, 2025, parties filed a joint statement following the meet and confer regarding a discovery referee as follows:
The parties were able to narrow down the choice of discovery referees to two potential candidates. Plaintiffs proposed Tad S. Shapiro from Shapiro, Galvin, Shapiro & Moran. Mr. Shapiro appears to have the necessary experience and qualifications; however, Defendant Foppoli is concerned with potential bias due to Mr. Shapiro practicing in the Santa Rosa area. Plaintiffs dispute that Mr. Shapiro may be biased just because he practices in Santa Rosa. In fact, because he practices in Santa Rosa, he would be familiar with how the judges in Sonoma County Superior Court deal with discovery disputes. He is an experienced mediator with Arbitration and Mediation Center. He has served as a discovery referee and his hourly rate is $650.
Defendant Foppoli suggested Hon. Kevin McKenney, a retired judge from Santa Clara County who is now a full time neutral with JAMS. Plaintiffs understand that Hon. McKenney's hourly rate is $800. Given the complexities of the pending motions and potential other discovery disputes, Plaintiffs believe his hourly rate is prohibitively high.
The parties wish to submit the final decision to this Court to choose between Mr. Shapiro and Judge McKenney. Additionally, the parties agreed that the issue of which party shall bear the costs associated with the discovery referee will be determined by the appointed referee.
A jury trial appears to be set for March 13, 2026.
For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. -Luke 8:17