A Los Angeles jury has found Chris Brown liable in a civil lawsuit stemming from a 2020 dog attack on his housekeeper, awarding nearly $13 million in damages after a two-week trial. The verdict, issued on [date], held Brown and his company Black Pyramid LLC responsible for negligence in the incident that left Maria Avila severely injured.
Details of the Incident
On the day of the attack, Maria Avila was emptying rubbish outside Brown's home in Tarzana, California, when she was attacked by Hades, a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd. According to the verdict, Avila was awarded $12.9 million in damages. Her sister, Patricia Avila, who was also working at the property during the incident, received $885,000 for emotional distress. Maria's husband, Oscar Olivo, was awarded $50,000.
Court Testimony and Arguments
During the trial, Brown argued that the dog was kept for security purposes, not as a personal pet. He testified that he had warned Maria Avila and her sister not to go outside unless accompanied by security. However, the two housekeepers denied receiving such a warning, stating that language differences would have made that conversation unlikely. Testimony revealed that Brown left the property after the attack instead of calling emergency services, claiming he feared a "media circus" if he remained at the scene.
Injuries and Aftermath
Maria Avila suffered severe facial and arm scarring, underwent skin graft surgery, and has been unable to return to work as a housekeeper due to limited arm mobility and post-traumatic stress disorder associated with dogs. Her 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."
Broader Context
The civil verdict comes shortly after Brown began a co-headlining stadium tour with Usher across the United States. Brown testified that he had been preparing to shower when he heard the dog growling and found Avila lying injured.
