Chris Brown Ordered to Pay Nearly $13 Million in Housekeeper's Dog Attack Case
A Los Angeles jury has found singer Chris Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, liable for negligence in a 2020 incident where his former housekeeper, Maria Avila, was severely injured by a dog at his residence. The verdict, delivered on June 30, 2026, awards Avila $12.9 million in damages. Additionally, her sister, Patricia Avila, received $885,000 for emotional distress, and Maria's husband, Oscar Olivo, was awarded $50,000. (iheart.com)
The attack occurred at Brown's Tarzana, California home, where Avila was taking out the trash when she was mauled by Hades, a 200-pound Caucasian Shepherd. The injuries resulted in permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, vision loss, and nerve damage, rendering Avila unable to continue her work as a housekeeper. (parade.com)
During the trial, Brown testified that Hades was a security dog owned by his head of security and not a personal pet. He claimed to have warned the housekeepers about the dog's presence and advised them not to go outside without security. However, the housekeepers denied receiving such warnings, citing language barriers. (tmz.com)
Notably, Brown admitted to not calling 911 after the attack, expressing concerns that the call might leak to the media. Instead, he instructed his team to make the emergency call. (tmz.com)
Maria Avila's attorney, Michael C. Murphy Jr., expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating, "We are thrilled that we were able to get justice for our client." (iheart.com)
This ruling comes as Brown is set to embark on a co-headlining stadium tour with Usher across the United States. (iheart.com)