A member of the Gucci family claims in a California sexual assault lawsuit that she suffered years of sex abuse as a child,  alleging that family members forced her into a cover-up in order to protect the fashion brand.

The lead plaintiff is the granddaughter of Aldo Gucci, who the New York Times reports was responsible for transforming Gucci from an artisanal leather goods producer to the internationally known fashion brand it is today. Gucci’s granddaughter alleges that her former stepfather, Joseph Ruffalo, sexually abused her from the age of six until she was 22. Additionally, she says that members of the Gucci family not only failed to stop Ruffalo, but also covered up the abuse for decades and even aided the abuser.

Gucci Family Member Allegedly Groomed Granddaughter

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff’s mother and grandmother, Patricia Gucci and Bruna Palombo, not only turned a blind eye to the abuse, but groomed the plaintiff for Ruffalo’s advances. The plaintiff alleges that during and after the abuse, she was told to keep quiet to avoid damaging the family’s reputation and fashion brand.

The New York Times reports that Ruffalo, a music manager who worked with well known artists such as Prince and Earth, Wind & Fire, married Patricia Gucci

Her mother and grandmother allegedly “tried to avoid, at all costs, what they perceived would be a scandal that could tarnish the Gucci name and potentially cost them millions.”

The lawsuit reportedly details a childhood of sexual abuse leading to teen years when the abuse continued, along with drugs and alcohol pushed by Ruffalo. The plaintiff says that Ruffalo would get into her childhood bed naked with her and grope her.

In addition, her mother allegedly video recorded her in the bathtub as a child and groom her for the abuse. Further, the plaintiff’s mother encouraged her to come home from boarding school as a teen to California, despite the abuse, alleges the lawsuit. The plaintiff claims that she told her mother and grandmother about the abuse as a teen as well, but was told to keep quiet. The lawsuit also accuses the plaintiff’s mother of physically abusing her, strangling, and hitting her.

The New York Times reports that the plaintiff attended a rehabilitation program where she came to terms with her childhood sexual abuse. She told reporters that she decided to file the lawsuit after learning Ruffalo was volunteering at a children’s hospital in California.

The plaintiff’s mother reportedly denies the allegations against her and the plaintiff’s grandmother.

“I am deeply sorry for the pain Joseph Ruffalo caused Alexandra,” Ms. Gucci wrote in an emailed statement to the New York Times. “What he did to her is inexcusable and I was devastated when she disclosed everything to me at our family doctor’s office in London in September 2007. I immediately initiated divorce proceedings against Mr. Ruffalo and set about healing my family through counseling. I am equally devastated by the allegations against me and her grandmother, which are completely false.”

James Ruffalo’s attorney told the New York Times that Ruffalo had not yet been served with the lawsuit, but denied all allegations of which he was aware. “While married to Alexandra’s mother, Mr. Ruffalo and his wife were greatly concerned about the mental well-being of Alexandra and took steps to address her instability,” continued the statement by Ruffalo’s lawyer. “Apparently, their efforts failed.”

The plaintiff’s lawyers reportedly released a video in the wake of the lawsuit, noting that Ruffalo still lives in California.

“If you think this doesn’t happen here in Beverly Hills, then you should know that my perpetrator still lives in California, spends time at the Bel-Air country club and volunteers in your children’s hospitals,” says the plaintiff in the video. “This is not something that only happens to other families, other neighborhoods, or other countries. It is everywhere.”

The plaintiff told New York Times reporters that she is and has been financially independent from the Gucci family for years. She says that beyond paying attorney fees and costs, she plans to put any money from the lawsuit into a foundation to end child sex abuse.

California Sex Abuse Laws

This child sex abuse lawsuit was filed in California court. The plaintiff alleges that most of the abuse she suffered at the hands of James Ruffalo took place in the state.

Under the recently enacted California Child Victims Act, the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse claims has been expanded. In addition, survivors have a temporary “look back” window in which to file lawsuits against their perpetrators and the institutions that failed to protect victims. The look back window goes until January of 2023.

As these allegations have taken place around the country, unfortunately, individuals in California may have also been subjected to such abuses.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.