A California jury ordered singer Chris Brown to pay nearly $13 million to his former housekeeper who was brutally attacked by a large guard dog at his home in 2020. The verdict came after a two-week civil trial where Maria Avila described how the dog tore off large chunks of her skin, leaving her with permanent facial disfigurement and nerve damage.
The jury found Brown and his company Black Pyramid LLC responsible for negligence in the attack that happened at his Tarzana, California property. Avila was emptying trash outside when the 200-pound Caucasian shepherd named Hades attacked her without warning.
Jury Awards Millions to Housekeeper and Family Members
The jury decided that Brown must pay $12.9 million to Avila for her injuries. Her sister Patricia Avila, who was working alongside Maria that day, received $885,000 for emotional distress. Maria’s husband Oscar Olivo also got $50,000 as part of the verdict.
The attack caused devastating injuries to Avila. She suffered severe wounds to her face and left arm that required multiple surgeries. Doctors had to take skin from her abdomen to graft onto her damaged arm. Avila told the court she now has limited mobility and cannot work as a housekeeper anymore because she lost arm strength and developed a serious fear of dogs.
During her emotional testimony, Avila broke down on the witness stand. “I will never be the same again,” she told jurors. She said the attack left her with post-traumatic stress disorder and nerve damage that makes it hard for her to sleep and carry out basic daily tasks.
Brown Testifies He Warned Housekeepers About Dangerous Dogs
Brown took the stand as the first witness in the trial on June 18. He told the jury that Hades was not his personal pet but was purchased and looked after by his security guards to protect his home from break-ins and stalkers. “I get a lot of stalker-type situations,” he explained.
The singer said he personally warned both Maria and Patricia that the dogs on his property were “absolutely not” friendly and told them not to go outside unless accompanied by security staff. However, the housekeepers denied receiving such a warning and said a language barrier would have made that conversation unlikely.
Brown admitted some liability for negligence before the trial started but argued that Avila was partially at fault for going outside alone. He also disputed how severe her injuries really were.
Brown Left Scene After Attack, Feared Media Attention
The jury heard that Brown did not call 911 himself after the attack. He admitted he left his property before paramedics arrived because he was afraid a recording of his voice would be leaked to the media and cause a “media circus.”
According to court testimony, Brown said he heard the dog growling outside and rushed downstairs to find Avila lying face down on the ground covered in blood. He secured the dog in a kennel, checked that she was still breathing, and told his security guard to get help. Brown said he drove around for hours after the attack and only returned when he was told it was safe.
Avila’s daughter Yoseline Espinoza testified about the desperate phone call she received from her aunt Patricia right after the attack. “Your mom can’t breathe. She keeps passing out on me. The ambulance is still not here. Chris Brown fled the scene,” Espinoza recalled her aunt telling her. Espinoza said she did not think her mother was going to survive.
Attorney Says Family Finally Got Justice After 5 Years
Following the verdict, Michael C. Murphy Jr. , the attorney representing Patricia Avila, expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision. “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. It was an honor to represent her.”
Brown’s lawyer acknowledged during jury selection that Avila deserved some compensation but said there was a “difference of opinion” about the amount. Brown’s representatives have not yet commented on the verdict.
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Ongoing Legal Troubles and Current Tour
The dog attack case is just one of many legal issues Brown has faced over the years. In 2009, he was arrested for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna and received probation. He later spent 131 days in jail for violating his probation terms. In 2017, his former girlfriend Karrueche Tran got a restraining order against him.
Currently, Brown is on the road co-headlining a stadium tour with Usher across the United States. He also faces a trial in the UK in October 2026 over allegations that he attacked a music producer with a bottle at a London nightclub in 2023.
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