A Los Angeles jury has ordered American R&B singer Chris Brown to pay $13 million in damages to his former housekeeper, Maria Avila, after his security dog attacked her at his Tarzana, California home in December 2020. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, following a two-week trial, finding Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, liable for the incident.
Details of the Attack
Maria Avila was emptying rubbish outside Brown's property when his 200-pound Caucasian shepherd, named Hades, mauled her face and arm. The attack left her with permanent facial scarring and limited mobility. According to testimony, she has been unable to return to work due to physical weakness and post-traumatic stress. Her sister, Patricia, who was also present during the incident, suffered emotional distress.
Damages Awarded
The jury ordered Chris Brown and his company to pay $12.9 million to Maria for negligence, $885,000 to her sister Patricia for emotional distress, and $50,000 to her husband Oscar Olivo. Maria showed jurors scars across her face and forearm, stating she will never be the same again.
Brown's Defense
Chris Brown argued that the housekeeper provoked the dog and caused her own injuries. He claimed Hades was kept for security purposes, not as a personal pet, and testified that he had warned Maria and Patricia to only go outside with security present. Both women denied receiving such a warning. Reports suggested that instead of calling 911, Brown fled the scene and drove around for hours. He told the court he was about to shower when he heard growling and found Maria lying in blood, stating that the sight freaked him out.
Legal Reactions
According to Billboard, Maria's lawyer, Michael C. Murphy Jr, expressed relief after the ruling. “After more than five years of litigating against Chris Brown, we are thrilled that we were able to get justice for our client, Patricia. We are so happy for her and her family after everything they went through on that horrible day. It was an honour to represent her.”
Ongoing Legal Issues
The ruling came just days after Brown began a co-headlining US stadium tour with Usher. He is also scheduled to face trial in the UK this October over an alleged unprovoked attack on producer Abraham Diaw in 2003.
