American singer-songwriter Chris Brown is facing a major legal setback. A court has ordered him to pay his former housekeeper close to $13 million, roughly Rs 124 crore, in damages after a horrifying dog attack at his home. The case goes back to an incident in 2020 that left the housekeeper severely injured.
Jury Rules in Favor of Maria Avila
A Los Angeles jury has ruled in favor of Maria Avila, Chris Brown's former housekeeper. After a trial that lasted two weeks, the jury found that the attack was the result of negligence on the part of Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC. For that negligence, the two have been ordered to pay Avila $12.9 million. Avila's sister Patricia, who was also working at the property at the time of the attack, has been awarded $885,000, while Avila's husband, Oscar Olivo, will receive $50,000.
How the Attack Unfolded at the Tarzana Home
The incident dates back to 2020. Avila testified during the trial that she was taking out the trash at Brown's home in Tarzana, California, when the dog attacked her. Brown had kept a 90-kilogram Caucasian Shepherd named Hades at the property for security. The dog tore away large sections of Avila's skin, permanently disfiguring her face and hands. The injuries were severe enough that Avila still struggles to walk properly.
What Chris Brown Told the Court
During the trial, Chris Brown recounted finding Avila covered in blood. "Seeing the blood scared me badly," he said. Brown said he was in shock at the time and left the scene on the advice of his manager. He explained that he believed if his voice had been heard on the 911 call, or if he had been present when police arrived, it would have turned into a media circus. The singer of "No One Else" also claimed he had warned Avila and her sister to stay away from the dogs, saying the animals were not friendly. The sisters, however, denied any such conversation ever took place in court, pointing to a language barrier that they said made it unlikely such a conversation could have happened at all. Brown further explained that he kept the dog purely for security, citing frequent stalker-like situations he has had to deal with.
