Chris Brown Will Get New Dog Attack Trial — Unless Housekeeper Accepts $9.5M Reduced Verdict
A judge says the original trial award of $13 million was "excessive."
In a recent ruling, a Los Angeles County judge has deemed the $13 million damages award for Chris Brown's dog attack on Maria Avila to be excessive. The judge, Huey P. Cotton, gave Avila the option to either retry her case or accept a reduced $9.5 million damages award. Avila's legal representative has not yet responded to queries regarding their decision.
In June, a jury had previously awarded Avila $12.9 million for her physical and emotional injuries sustained when a Caucasian shepherd, also known as Hades, mauled her at Brown's home in Tarzana, California in 2020. Brown acknowledged responsibility for the incident but argued that Avila also contributed to the situation, claiming he had warned her about the dog's dangerous nature.
Despite this, Judge Cotton affirmed that Brown faced a fair trial, dismissing Brown's claim that jurors were biased due to prior knowledge of his 2008 assault on Rihanna. However, the judge agreed that the $12.9 million verdict was disproportionate to Avila's injuries. Avila contends that Hades severely injured her, causing long-term facial disfigurement, vision loss, and nerve damage.
Judge Cotton maintained that Avila should be fairly compensated for her emotional distress and persistent pain, but found insufficient evidence of extensive permanent nerve damage. The judge retained a separate $855,000 award given to Avila's sister, who was also employed at Brown's residence during the 2020 incident. Brown's legal team has not commented on the judge's decision, while Brown is currently touring.
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