Chris Brown Found Liable for Dog Attack on Housekeeper
US singer Chris Brown has been held responsible for a dog attack that severely injured his housekeeper at his residence in 2020.
After a two-week trial in Los Angeles, the jury ruled in favor of Maria Avila, who was mauled and disfigured by a 200lb (90kg) Caucasian shepherd dog owned by Brown while she was disposing of rubbish at his home in Tarzana, California.
Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, are now required to pay Avila $12.9 million (£9.7 million) for negligence, according to US publication Billboard.
has reached out to Brown's representatives for comment.
Details of the Attack and Injuries
Avila reported that the dog, named Hades, tore off
"large chunks of her skin", resulting in permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, vision loss, and nerve damage.
Brown claimed the dog was kept for security purposes and was not his personal pet.
Trial Testimony and Brown's Response
During the trial, testimony revealed that Brown did not call emergency services or attend to Avila immediately but instead left the scene after the attack, according to Rolling Stone.
The jury heard that Brown left his employees to care for Avila, expressing concern about a
"media circus"if his voice was recorded on the 911 call or if he was present when police arrived.
Brown's Account of the Incident
Brown stated he was about to shower when he heard the dog growling and found Avila lying motionless and covered in
"a lot of blood".
He described being
"in shock"and following his manager's advice to leave before emergency services arrived.
Before the trial, Brown admitted some responsibility but disputed the severity of Avila's injuries and argued she was partially at fault.
He testified that he warned Avila and her sister that the dogs were
"absolutely not"friendly and instructed them to go outside only when security was present.
However, the two housekeepers denied this conversation occurred and cited a language barrier that made such a discussion unlikely.
Brown explained that the dog was purchased and cared for by his security guards to protect the property from break-ins, stating,
"I get a lot of stalker-type situations."
Avila's Testimony and Injuries
Speaking in Spanish with an interpreter, Avila described severe scarring on her face and left arm, as well as limited mobility after skin graft surgery using tissue from her abdomen to repair her arm.
Rolling Stone reported she showed the jury
"a pattern of scars running from beneath her left eye up across her forehead"and
"raised and pitted skin"on her forearm.
She testified that she has been unable to return to work as a housekeeper due to reduced arm strength and post-traumatic stress disorder that prevents her from being around dogs.
Additional Awards and Legal Proceedings
An additional $885,000 (£668,000) was awarded to Avila's sister Patricia, who was also working during the attack.
Maria Avila's husband, Oscar Olivo, received a separate award of $50,000 (£38,000), according to Patricia's lawyer Michael C Murphy, who spoke to Billboard.
"After more than five years of litigating against Chris Brown, we are thrilled that we were able to get justice for our client, Patricia,"Murphy said.
"We are so happy for her and her family after everything they went through on that horrible day."
Representatives for Maria Avila and Oscar Olivo have not yet issued statements.
Current Status of Chris Brown
Brown is currently touring the US with R&B singer Usher.
He is scheduled to face trial in the UK in October regarding an alleged 2023 nightclub incident involving an attack on a music producer with a bottle.
Brown appeared in UK court in January alongside co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu; both were granted bail.
