$6M Awarded In Sex Assault Case Involving Oversight By Sonoma County Nonprofit

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Sonoma County jury ruled that a nonprofit failed to prevent a caregiver from abusing a developmentally disabled man and that the organizations responsible for his care failed to act on warning signs that surfaced months before the allegations came to light.

A Sonoma County jury awarded roughly $6 million to a developmentally disabled man who they found had been sexually abused by a caregiver while receiving supported living services through Becoming Independent, according to court records and trial proceedings.

Becoming Independent serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The lawsuit claimed managers of the Santa Rosa-based organization overlooked red flags, failed to investigate complaints, and allowed the caregiver, Andrew Martinez, to continue providing overnight, unsupervised care.

Becoming Independent said it disagrees with the jury’s verdict and believes the outcome does not fully reflect the facts of the case.

Chief Operating Officer Luana Vaetoe said the litigation was a difficult and unusual chapter in the organization's nearly 60-year history, adding that the civil case involved different standards and evidentiary rules than a criminal proceeding.

She said the alleged perpetrator was dismissed from the lawsuit during jury selection, and jurors did not hear that no criminal charges, arrests, or incarceration have resulted from the underlying allegations.

Becoming Independent attorneys have identified significant trial issues, including evidentiary rulings, and the organization is evaluating possible appeals, Vaetoe said.

She said "most importantly," the verdict would not affect the organization's operations, finances, or services, and that it remains committed to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"While I cannot comment further on matters that were part of the proceedings, these and other factors contributed to a uniquely challenging case," Vaetoe said.

The case stemmed from a February 2024 complaint filed in Sonoma County Superior Court by a plaintiff identified as John Doe, a dependent adult represented by his sister and guardian.

The complaint alleged that Martinez sexually assaulted the man during overnight shifts between August 2021 and March 2022 while working as a personal assistant assigned through Becoming Independent. The suit also named North Bay Regional Center as a defendant.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff received up to 21 hours of daily support through Becoming Independent's Supported Living Services program. Family members installed motion-activated cameras inside the home because they worried about the client's safety and ability to communicate concerns.

The lawsuit alleged that Martinez's aunt served as his supervisor at Becoming Independent and knew details about his troubled background before he began working with vulnerable clients. The complaint further alleged that the nonprofit placed Martinez in overnight assignments despite concerns about his suitability for unsupervised caregiving.

Court filings described several incidents that family members later viewed as warning signs. In one instance, the plaintiff returned home with a head injury after a trip with Martinez.

The complaint alleged that no incident report was prepared at the time, despite requests from the plaintiff's guardian and later inquiries to managers.

The suit also alleged that the plaintiff repeatedly complained that Martinez entered his bedroom at night, even though he did not require assistance after going to bed. Family members said those complaints led them to install additional barriers and closely monitor the home.

According to the complaint, camera footage captured occasions when the devices were turned toward walls, covered with blankets, repositioned, or removed altogether. The plaintiff alleged those incidents coincided with episodes of sexual abuse.

The lawsuit further alleged that the plaintiff later participated in a forensic interview in which he identified Martinez and described sexual acts. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the statements, camera evidence, staffing decisions, and management failures demonstrated negligence by the organizations responsible for overseeing his care.

Vaetoe did not respond to questions about oversight involved in this case or with caretakers in general, including any complaints involving Martinez that could have been, but were not, investigated.

The complaint included claims for sexual battery, negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiffs sought compensatory damages, punitive damages, costs, and other relief.

Jurors ultimately sided with the plaintiff and returned a verdict worth approximately $6 million, concluding a case that focused not only on allegations against a caregiver, but also on whether the agencies entrusted with protecting vulnerable adults fulfilled their responsibilities.