Chris Brown has been ordered to pay nearly $13 million in damages to his former housekeeper after she was severely attacked by one of his dogs at his California home in December 2020. The victim, Maria Avila, sued the R&B singer in 2021, alleging that she was mauled by Brown’s Caucasian shepherd guard dog, Hades, while taking out the trash at his residence in Tarzana, California.
After a five-year legal battle, a Los Angeles jury ruled in Avila’s favour, finding Brown liable for negligence and awarding her $12.9 million in damages.The court also awarded Avila’s sister, Patricia Avila, who also worked for Brown, $885,000 for emotional distress. Maria’s husband, Oscar Olivo, received an additional $50,000.
During the trial, Avila testified that the dog tore away large sections of skin from her body, leaving her with serious injuries that required numerous stitches and skin graft procedures. She also told the court the attack resulted in post-traumatic stress disorder and permanent nerve damage, making it difficult for her to continue working.
Before the trial, Brown accepted partial responsibility for the incident but disputed the severity of Avila’s injuries and argued that she shared responsibility for what happened. The singer claimed he had previously warned Maria and Patricia that the dogs were not friendly and instructed them not to go outside alone without security personnel. Both sisters denied ever receiving such a warning.
According to the lawsuit, Hades was later euthanised by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Animal Shelter after authorities classified the dog as dangerous and vicious.Following the verdict, Patricia’s attorney, Michael C. Murphy Jr., welcomed the decision, saying the judgment delivered justice for his client and her family after years of legal proceedings.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/
