Chris Brown ordered to pay nearly $13m as jury finds him liable in housekeeper dog attack case

Los Angeles jury found Chris Brown liable in 2020 dog attack case, awarding nearly $13m in damages

A Los Angeles jury has found Chris Brown liable in a civil lawsuit over a 2020 dog attack involving his housekeeper, awarding nearly $13 million in damages after a two-week trial.

The verdict found Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, liable for negligence following an incident in which Maria Avila was attacked by Hades, a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd, while emptying rubbish outside the singer's home in Tarzana, California.

According to the verdict, Maria Avila was awarded $12.9 million in damages. Her sister, Patricia Avila, who was also working at the property during the incident, was awarded $885,000 for emotional distress, while Maria's husband, Oscar Olivo, received $50,000.

Maria Avila's attorney, Michael C. Murphy Jr., said after the verdict, "After more than five years of litigating against Chris Brown, we are thrilled that we were able to get justice for our client, Patricia. We are so happy for her and her family after everything they went through on that horrible day. It was an honor to represent her."

During the trial, Brown argued that the dog was kept for security rather than as a personal pet. He also testified that he had warned Maria Avila and her sister not to go outside unless accompanied by security.

The two housekeepers denied receiving such a warning, stating that language differences would have made that conversation unlikely.

Testimony presented during the trial stated that Brown left the property after the attack instead of calling emergency services himself, saying he feared a "media circus" if he remained at the scene.

Brown testified that he had been preparing to shower when he heard the dog growling and found Avila lying injured.

According to testimony, Maria Avila suffered severe facial and arm scarring, underwent skin graft surgery and has been unable to return to work as a housekeeper because of limited arm mobility and post-traumatic stress associated with dogs.

The civil verdict comes shortly after Brown began a co-headlining stadium tour with Usher across the United States.