Chris Brown has been ordered to pay nearly $13 million after a jury ruled in favor of a former housekeeper who said she was brutally attacked by a dog at her home, leaving her with permanent injuries.
Chris Brown must pay nearly $13 million after a California jury found him liable in a lawsuit filed by a former butler. The former housekeeper said she suffered life-changing injuries when she was attacked by a large guard dog while working at his home.
The sentence stemmed from an incident at one of Brown’s properties in Tarzana, California, in which former housekeeper Maria Avila said she was mauled by a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd named Hades. According to Billboard , the jury awarded Avila $12.9 million in damages after finding she suffered serious and permanent injuries.
Avila testified that the attack left her with lasting facial disfigurement, extensive scarring, vision loss and nerve damage. She believes these injuries significantly changed her life and ability to work.
The jury also awarded Avila’s sister, Patricia Avila, $885,000 in emotional distress damages. Patricia also worked at Brown’s residence and witnessed the aftermath of the attack. Maria’s husband, Oscar Olivo, received an additional $50,000.
In a June 18 deposition, Brown maintained that he warned the two women about the dangers of dogs on the property.
According to his testimony, he told Maria and Patricia that the animals were “definitely not” friendly and instructed them not to go out unless security personnel were present.
Brown also disputed the suggestion that Hades was his personal pet.
He testified that the dog belonged to his security department and was acquired because of repeated security issues at the property, including suspected break-ins and what he called a “stalker-type situation.”
The lawsuit focuses on whether adequate precautions were taken to protect workers at the residence despite the presence of large guard dogs. The jury ultimately sided with the plaintiffs, awarding damages totaling nearly $13.9 million to three family members.
The verdict marks another major legal setback for Brown, and it’s not over yet.
Brown is also awaiting trial on charges of an unprovoked bottle attack on music producer Abraham Dio in a London nightclub in 2023. Brown and co-accused Omorolu Akinlolu made a brief appearance in a British court earlier this year, and both were granted bail, allowing the singer to continue his stadium tour while the criminal case progresses.
