Jury Orders Chris Brown to Pay Nearly $13 Million After Housekeeper Is Mauled by Dog

A Los Angeles jury has ordered singer Chris Brown to pay nearly $13 million in damages after finding him liable in a lawsuit filed by his former housekeeper, who was severely injured in a dog attack at his California home in 2020.

The verdict followed a two-week trial in which jurors ruled that Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, were negligent after Maria Avila was attacked by Hades, a 200-pound Caucasian Shepherd kept at Brown’s residence in Tarzana, California.

According to the ruling, Maria Avila was awarded $12.9 million in damages for the life-changing injuries she suffered. Her sister, Patricia Avila, who witnessed the attack while working at the property, received $885,000 for emotional distress. Maria’s husband, Oscar Olivo, was also awarded $50,000.

Maria Avila’s attorney, Michael C. Murphy Jr., welcomed the verdict, describing it as long-awaited justice after more than five years of legal proceedings. He said he was pleased that the family had finally received accountability for what they endured.

During the trial, Brown argued that the dog was kept solely for security purposes and was not his personal pet. He also testified that he had previously warned Maria and Patricia not to go outside unless security personnel were present because of the dogs. However, both women denied receiving such a warning, adding that language barriers would have made such a conversation difficult.

Jurors also heard testimony that after the attack, Brown left the property instead of calling emergency services or assisting the injured housekeeper. Evidence presented in court suggested he drove away for several hours because he feared attracting media attention, leaving employees to contact first responders.

Maria Avila told the court that the attack left her with permanent facial and arm injuries. She underwent multiple surgeries, including skin grafts taken from her abdomen to reconstruct her left arm. Despite treatment, she continues to experience limited mobility and has been unable to return to work as a housekeeper.

She also testified that the traumatic experience has left her suffering from post-traumatic stress, making it difficult for her to be around dogs or resume her previous occupation.

Her daughter told the jury that the incident dramatically changed her mother’s life, saying she had become withdrawn and no longer enjoyed social activities. She explained that Maria avoids public gatherings, dislikes having photographs taken, and has lost the confidence she once had.

Brown also testified during the trial, saying he heard the dog growling while preparing to shower and rushed outside, where he found Maria lying on the ground covered in blood. He admitted the scene shocked him and said his manager advised him to leave before emergency responders arrived, a decision he attributed to concerns over intense media attention.

The verdict was delivered just days after Brown launched his co-headlining U.S. stadium tour with Usher, which includes two scheduled performances at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles later this year.