Chris Brown was ordered to pay $13 million to his former housekeeper, who sued the singer after she was mauled by his dog while working at his California home in 2020. The two-week trial was held in June after a lawsuit was filed in 2021, in which Maria Avila claimed the singer’s 200-pound Caucasian Shepherd named Hades, a security dog that Brown reportedly kept in his house for added protection, mauled her and disfigured her.
According to the American Kennel Club, Caucasian Shepherds are a guardian breed and most often used as watchdogs. During the trial in June, Chris Brown claimed the dog was not his personal pet, and added that it was brought in for security purposes, telling the jury, “I get a lot of stalker-type situations.”
On June 30, jurors reached a verdict and ruled that Chris Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, must pay Avila $12.9 million in damages for negligence. Additionally, the singer owed Patricia Avila, the housekeeper’s sister who was also at the singer‘s California home on the day of the attack, $885,000 for emotional distress. Brown also owed Oscar Olivo, Maria’s husband, $50,000 as per the verdict.
Attorney Michael C. Murphy Jr., who represented Patricia Avila, addressed the verdict in a statement to Billboard, saying he was “thrilled” to get justice for Patricia and her family.
“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 honor to represent her,” he added.
The case previously encountered a mistrial due to jury misconduct in mid-June, with the judge requesting that the lawyers select new jurors. For those uninformed, Judge Huey P. Cotton declared a mistrial after discovering that one of the jurors searched online for details regarding the case and shared their findings with the other jurors.
Chris Brown’s former housekeeper got emotional during her testimony
Maria Avila, Chris Brown’s former housekeeper, recounted the dog attack and the aftermath in a tearful testimony during the trial on June 24, saying she would never be the same again. On December 13, 2026, Avila was mauled by Brown‘s dog when she went outside to empty the vacuum. Avila, who testified in Spanish through an interpreter, said the attack robbed her of her confidence and livelihood, saying she was never able to go back to working as a housekeeper due to her injuries.
She further testified that the doctors harvested so much skin from her stomach to graft on her arm that she was unable to bend at the waist during the recovery. She also said the attack left her traumatized and in fear of dogs, saying:
“When I go outside, and I see dogs, if I see they’re staying far away, I’m fine. But if I think they’re going to come close to me, I’m afraid.”
Maria Avila showed the extent of her injuries to her arms and face to the jurors during the trial. She admitted to being self-conscious about the way she looked after the attack, saying that she always tried to “cover my face with my hair and with my glasses.”
Chris Brown, who also testified at the trial, said he rushed downstairs after hearing his dog growl, and found Maria Avial face down and seemingly unconscious on the walkway by his front door. He said there was “a lot of blood” and added that he left the scene after calling his security and making sure the dog was back in its kennel, saying, “The blood kind of freaked me out.”
He also admitted that he didn’t place a 911 call himself for fear that someone would recognize his voice and start a “media circus,” saying his manager advised him to leave the property before first responders arrived. Chris Brown also said he drove around for hours until he received a call saying it was safe for him to return home.
Chris Brown also testified that he never touched Avila after the attack, nor did he offer her any help, saying he was “in shock.” He also alleged that both Maria and Patricia had been warned not to go outside without telling him, a claim that both women denied.
Maria Avila’s daughter said her mother was “just not herself anymore”
Yoseline Espinoza, Maria Avila’s adult daughter, also testified at the trial, and recalled receiving a call from her aunt after the attack. Espinoza said her aunt called her “in panic mode” and was “freaking out,” saying Maria couldn’t breathe.
Espinoza also told jurors that her mom was not the same after the attack. She said Avila’s personality changed and that she preferred to stay indoors and avoided taking pictures because she didn’t want people to see her face.
“She’s not the same. She used to have a spark in her. She always dressed up, had her makeup done, her hair done, everything. Now she doesn’t take the time to do that. She’s just not herself anymore. Her personality has changed. She doesn’t like going out anymore. She doesn’t even like to be in public settings. She doesn’t like pictures. She doesn’t like family outings. She doesn’t want people to see her face,” Espinoza said.
Chris Brown is currently on a joint tour with Usher, titled the “Raymond & Brown Tour.” The tour kicked off in Denver, Colorado on June 26, and their next show is scheduled for July 2 in Detroit.
Edited by Juhi Marzia
