A California jury has ordered singer Chris Brown to pay nearly $13 million in damages after finding him liable for negligence in a lawsuit brought by a former housekeeper who was seriously injured in a dog attack at his Los Angeles-area home.
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday following a civil trial over a December 2020 incident at Brown’s Tarzana property in California. Maria Avila, who was working at the residence at the time, alleged she was attacked by a large guard dog while taking out trash. The jury awarded her $12.9 million in damages. Her sister, Patricia Avila, received $885,000 for emotional distress, while Maria’s husband, Oscar Olivo, was awarded $50,000.
Court filings showed that Maria Avila sustained severe injuries during the attack, including permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, vision impairment and nerve damage. She argued that the injuries had lasting physical and emotional consequences and prevented her from continuing her work as a housekeeper.
Before the trial began, Brown acknowledged some liability for negligence under California’s dog-bite law but contested the extent of the injuries claimed and argued that Maria Avila bore some responsibility for the incident.
During his testimony, Brown told the court that he had warned both Maria and Patricia Avila not to go outside without security because several dogs on the property were “absolutely not” friendly. He also maintained that the dog involved in the attack, Hades, was not his personal pet but had been acquired and cared for by his security team due to security concerns, including break-ins and stalking incidents.
Following the verdict, attorney Michael C. Murphy Jr., who represented Patricia Avila, welcomed the jury’s decision.
“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.”
The ruling comes as Brown is currently touring as a co-headliner on The R&B Tour alongside Usher.
Ademide Adebayo
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