Becoming Independent, a Santa Rosa nonprofit that serves adults with developmental disabilities, filed an appeal on Oct. 2, 2026 of a $6 million jury verdict over a caregiver's sexual abuse of a client. The Press Democrat reported the appeal and other developments on Oct. 17, after a Sonoma County judge denied the nonprofit's motion for a mistrial on Sept. 11.

The case

According to the paper, the client is a middle-aged man who needs near-constant in-home care. Becoming Independent began staffing his care at his sister's Healdsburg home in 2021. After a monthlong trial that began May 1, the jury found that a caregiver the nonprofit employed was liable for sexually assaulting him in early 2022, and that Becoming Independent was negligent in hiring and supervising that worker.

The jury assigned 80% of responsibility, or $4.8 million, to the nonprofit and 20% to the caregiver, who had filed for bankruptcy. He denied the assault allegations under oath and has never been charged. The district attorney closed an earlier investigation in November 2025, but a representative told the paper the office is investigating again.

CEO Luana Vaetoe told the paper the organization's hiring, training, supervision and oversight practices are "comprehensive and designed to protect the individuals we support." She said its insurer controls decisions about the defense and the appeal, and that the award will not disrupt services.

The paper also reported:

  • A second lawsuit, filed in March, alleges staff negligence let another client with an intellectual disability wander alone in a park in July 2025, where, the suit says, she was assaulted. The man charged pleaded no contest to sexual battery and cruelty to a dependent adult.
  • In July, a judge approved a $790,000 class settlement over claims that caregivers didn't get rest and meal breaks.
  • Becoming Independent pays full-time direct support professionals $21.25 to $21.75 an hour, the CEO said.

Why this matters for providers and DSPs

In-home and one-to-one supports mean a single staff member is often alone with someone who may not be able to report harm. The jury focused on hiring and supervision, not just on the worker. That makes things like reference checks, conflict-of-interest rules when relatives work together, unannounced visits, and quick follow-up on family concerns part of an agency's legal exposure. Those concerns apply equally to group homes and day programs. The break-time settlement is a reminder that California wage-and-hour rules apply to DSP shifts, too.