Chris Brown has been ordered to pay nearly $14 million in damages after a California jury found him liable in a lawsuit brought by a housekeeper who was severely attacked by a security dog at his home in 2020.
The verdict, delivered on Tuesday, June 30, awarded approximately $13.8 million in total damages to the victims and their family members following a two-week trial.
The lawsuit stemmed from a December 2020 incident in which Maria Avila was mauled by Hades, a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd kept at Brown’s property in Tarzana, California. According to court proceedings, Avila was emptying trash outside the residence when the attack occurred.
A jury found Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, negligent and ordered them to pay $12.9 million in damages to Maria Avila. Her sister, Patricia Avila, who was also working at the property during the incident, was awarded $885,000 for emotional distress, while Maria’s husband, Oscar Olivo, received an additional $50,000.
Following the verdict, the family’s attorney, Michael C. Murphy Jr., welcomed the decision, describing it as justice for the victims after more than five years of legal proceedings.
Brown argued during the trial that the dog was maintained strictly for security purposes and was not his personal pet. However, testimony presented in court alleged that after the attack, the singer left the scene instead of calling emergency services or assisting the injured housekeeper.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Brown later explained that he left because he feared his involvement would attract intense media attention if his voice appeared on a 911 call or if he was present when police arrived. Employees at the property subsequently contacted emergency responders and rendered assistance to the victim.
Before the trial, Brown admitted partial responsibility but maintained that he had warned Maria Avila and her sister not to go outside unless security personnel were present because of the dogs on the property.
The two housekeepers disputed that claim, telling the court they were never given such a warning and noting that language barriers would have made such a conversation unlikely.
The ruling comes just days after Brown launched a co-headlining U.S. stadium tour with Usher.