Dog Attack: Chris Brown hit with $13m damages

A California jury has ordered American singer Chris Brown to pay more than $13.8 million in damages after finding him liable for negligence in a dog attack that left his former housekeeper, Maria Avila, seriously injured at his Los Angeles-area home.

The verdict was delivered on Tuesday in the civil case arising from a December 2020 incident at Brown’s Tarzana property in California.

Avila, who was working at the singer’s residence at the time, said she was attacked by a large guard dog while taking out trash outside the home.

The jury awarded her $12.9 million in damages. Her sister, Patricia Avila, was awarded $885,000 for emotional distress, while Maria’s husband, Oscar Olivo, received $50,000.

Court filings showed that Maria Avila suffered severe injuries from the attack, including permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, vision impairment and nerve damage.

She argued that the injuries had lasting physical and emotional effects and stopped her from continuing her work as a housekeeper.

Before the trial began, Brown accepted some liability for negligence under California’s dog-bite law, but disputed the extent of Avila’s injuries. He also argued that she bore some responsibility for what happened.

During his testimony, Brown told the court that he had warned Maria and Patricia Avila not to go outside without security because several dogs on the property were “absolutely not” friendly.

The singer also said the dog involved in the attack, Hades, was not his personal pet, but had been acquired and cared for by his security team because of security concerns, including break-ins and stalking incidents.

Following the verdict, Michael C. Murphy Jr., lawyer to 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 honour to represent her,” he said.

The ruling adds to Brown’s legal troubles as the singer continues his music engagements, including his co-headlining R&B tour with Usher.