In order to avoid what they say would be a “trial by ambush,” attorneys for the daughter of Patricia Gucci want to make sure they have a chance to depose the plaintiff’s grandmother and one other witness if the defense decides to call either of them as part of their defense against the plaintiff’s sexual abuse lawsuit.
Plaintiff Alexandra Zarini is the great granddaughter of Guccio Gucci, who created the Gucci luxury brand. Zarini’s mother is Patricia Gucci. Now 62, Patricia Gucci was born during Aldo Gucci’s extramarital affair with Bruna Palombo, who was initially a co-defendant in the lawsuit along with Gucci and Zarini’s stepfather, Joseph Ruffalo, whom she alleges sexually abused her.
Zarini’s Los Angeles Superior Court allegations against her mother are for negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Palombo, who is in her 80s and lives in Italy, was later dropped as a defendant by Zarini’s attorneys.
Patricia Gucci was married to Ruffalo, a former music manager, from 1993 to 2008. The pair lived together in Los Angeles from 1992 to 1998 and she left him after her daughter allegedly told her he was molesting her. Zarini sued the trio in September 2020.
In court papers filed Tuesday with Judge Michael Small, Zarini’s lawyers contend they should be allowed to depose Palombo and Gucci’s current boyfriend, Gregory Lee, if the defense wants to use them as witnesses.
“Should defendants seek to call either Mr. Lee or Mrs. Palombo as a percipient witness at trial, plaintiff requests the ability to depose wither witness prior to them taking the stand, or, in the alternative, preclude Mr. Lee and Mrs. Palombo from testifying at trial, as their testimony would surely result in trial by ambush,” Zarini’s lawyers state in their court papers.
Zarini’s lawyers further argue in their pleadings that it would be “wholly unfair and prejudicial” to the plaintiff “in a case already dealing with sensitive information” if either Palombo or Lee were allowed to testify without being deposed first.
In a separate motion, Zarini’s attorneys oppose a bid by Ruffalo’s legal team to keep them from introducing any evidence or testimony regarding any “flashing” and/or indecent exposure by Ruffalo toward Zarini.
“Plaintiff endured relentless sexual assault and abuse from defendant Ruffalo,” according to Zarini’s attorney’s court papers, in which they further allege Ruffalo exposed himself to Zarini in a manner “demonstrating a pattern of predatory behavior.”
According to Zarini’s suit, her mother compounded the plaintiff’s suffering by sexualizing her for Ruffalo’s benefit and also by physically, mentally and emotionally abusing Zarini.
Patricia Gucci’s lawyers maintained in their earlier court papers that Ruffalo, not their client, and his alleged abuses were the cause of Zarini’s injuries and that therefore the plaintiff was precluded from avoiding the statute of limitations by claiming to do so under a special statute.
Patricia Gucci’s lawyers also maintained in their court papers that she was not negligent because she did not know Ruffalo was allegedly abusing Zarini until her daughter reached age 22 and disclosed what had happened.
Trial of Zarini’s suit is scheduled May 27.
Judge mike small should be taken off the bench
I filled in federal court agist judge mike small and judge Randal d white and one case was filled in Los Angeles and transfered to riverside county and dismist by Randal D White he dismist his own case