A Los Angeles jury has ruled that singer Chris Brown is liable for negligence regarding a 2020 dog attack that left his former housekeeper, Maria Avila, with severe injuries. The court ordered Brown and his firm, Black Pyramid LLC, to pay $12.9 million in damages following a two-week trial.
The incident occurred at Brown’s Tarzana, California residence when a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd named Hades attacked Avila as she was discarding trash. Avila suffered extensive trauma, including permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, vision loss, and nerve damage. During the proceedings, Avila stated that the attack necessitated multiple surgeries, such as skin grafts, and resulted in lasting mobility issues and psychological distress that ended her career.
Brown contended that the dogs were intended for security and claimed he had warned workers to avoid being outside without security personnel. Both Avila and her sister, Patricia, disputed this, citing language barriers that would have hindered such communication. Additionally, testimony revealed that Brown vacated the premises after the attack without calling for emergency assistance, noting that his manager advised him to leave to avoid media scrutiny. While Brown expressed shock upon finding Avila injured, he maintained that the housekeeper shared some responsibility for the incident.
The jury also awarded Patricia $885,000, while Maria Avila’s husband, Oscar Olivo, was granted $50,000. Legal counsel for Patricia praised the outcome as a significant victory for his client.
