Sexual assault survivor wins $4.1M in civil verdict

A sexual assault survivor received a $4.1 million verdict against a former Milwaukee restaurateur.

During a civil trial earlier this month, Karlos Soriano-Cabrera, a former Milwaukee restauranteur and co-owner of C-Viche restaurant, was ordered to pay $4.1 million to the victim, including $1 million in punitive damages.

Attorney Jason Knutson of Habush Habush & Rottier filed the lawsuit on behalf of the victim. The civil verdict follows Soriano-Cabrera’s 2024 criminal conviction on three counts of third-degree sexual assault and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault involving multiple victims, including the victim in this case. Soriano-Cabrera is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence, to be followed by 10 years of extended supervision.

The civil complaint alleged Soriano-Cabrera acted intentionally and with full awareness that his conduct would cause serious bodily and psychological harm. The complaint read in part “as a direct result of the defendant’s actions, the victim suffered severe injuries to her mind and body.”

The verdict reflects the civil justice system’s important role in providing legal recourse for victims of sexual assault in addition to the criminal process, Knutson said.

“Civil cases like this can help provide some measure of accountability of the assailant, and acknowledgment for the victim,” he said. “Sexual assault cases continue to be difficult to pursue, and there is still much room for change in how survivors are treated in the legal system. My hope is this verdict serves its intended purpose, which is to compensate the victim, punish the defendant and deter conduct like this in the future.”