A Los Angeles jury has ordered American singer Chris Brown to pay nearly $13 million in damages to a former housekeeper who was severely injured by his dog.
The verdict follows a two-week civil trial over a 2020 incident at Brown’s home in Tarzana, California, where Maria Avila was attacked by a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd while taking out the trash.
Avila sustained serious injuries, including permanent facial disfigurement, nerve damage, and loss of mobility, and has been unable to return to work.
The jury found Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, liable for negligence, awarding Avila $12.9 million in damages. Her sister, Patricia Avila, received $885,000 for emotional distress, while her husband, Oscar Olivo, was awarded $50,000.
During the trial, Brown argued that the dog was kept for security purposes and said staff had been warned not to go outside without supervision. However, the workers denied receiving such warnings.
Court testimony also revealed that Brown left the scene after the attack, later saying he was in shock and acted on advice to avoid attracting media attention.
Brown had not publicly commented on the ruling at the time of reporting.
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