The year before Vopiscus' election, the consuls Lucius Furius Medullinus Fusus and Gnaeus Manlius Vulso, had blocked all attempts at agrarian reform, and no sooner had they left office than they were summoned to account for their conduct by the tribune Gnaeus Genucius. He had previously brought to trial Titus Menenius Lanatus, whose failure to intervene in the Battle of the Cremera during his consulship in 477 had led to the utter destruction of the Fabii and the loss of an important strategic position, and Spurius Servilius Priscus Structus, who as consul in 476 recklessly attacked a Veientine force that had taken the Janiculum, and only been rescued from disaster by the arrival of his colleague. Menenius had escaped with a fine and his life, but soon sickened and died; while Servilius was acquitted due to the boldness of his defense, and the support of his colleague, Aulus Verginius Tricostus Rutilus.