Chris Brown has been ordered to pay nearly $13 million after a Los Angeles jury ruled against him in a lawsuit filed by his former housekeeper, Maria Avila, who was mauled by one of his dogs in 2020. The verdict came after a two-week trial centered on the attack, which took place outside Brown’s Tarzana, California home while Avila was working on the property. According to reports, she was emptying trash when she was attacked by Hades, a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd reportedly kept at the residence. Avila told the jury that the dog attacked her without warning and caused severe injuries. She claimed large portions of her skin were torn off, leaving her with permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, nerve damage and vision loss. She sued Brown in 2021 over the incident.
The jury found Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, liable for negligence. The singer has been ordered to pay Avila $12.9 million. Her sister Patricia Avila, who was also working at the property when the attack happened, was awarded $885,000 for emotional distress, while Maria’s husband, Oscar Olivo, was awarded $50,000.
During the trial, Brown accepted some responsibility for negligence but challenged the extent of Avila’s injuries. His legal team also argued that Avila was partly responsible for what happened. Brown testified that he had warned both sisters that the dogs on the property were not friendly and should not be approached without security present.
The singer also said Hades was not his personal pet but was cared for by security staff to help protect the home from break-ins. He told the jury that he often deals with stalker-related concerns and security threats.
Following the verdict, attorney Michael C. Murphy Jr., who represented Patricia Avila, said the family was relieved to finally receive justice after more than five years of litigation.
The ruling comes during a busy year for Brown, who is currently on his co-headlining R&B tour with Usher. However, the dog attack case is not the only legal matter he is facing. The singer is also scheduled to stand trial in London later this year over an alleged nightclub assault involving music producer Abraham Diaw. For now, the California verdict marks a major financial and legal setback for Brown, while Avila’s family says the decision brings some measure of closure after the traumatic 2020 attack.