Singer: Chris Brown was ordered to pay nearly USD 13 million in damages after a jury found him liable for ‘negligence’ in a lawsuit over a dog attack that left one of his housekeepers permanently disfigured.
Chris Brown was found responsible in the dog attack case
According to reports, the jury on June 30 decided that Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, must pay USD 12.9 million in damages to housekeeper Maria Avila, who was beaten by the singer’s 200-pound Caucasian shepherd while working at her home in California.Michael C. Murphy Jr., an attorney representing Maria’s sister, Patricia Avila, confirmed the verdict.As Billboard reported, Patricia, who was working with her brother at the time of the incident, was separately awarded USD 885,000 for emotional distress. Maria’s husband, Oscar Olivo, was also awarded USD 50,000.
Housekeeper opens up about dog attack
According to the report, the housekeeper, Maria was emptying garbage outside Brown’s residence with the dog that reportedly attacked her without warning. She claims the dog tore off “huge chunks of her skin,” leaving her with permanent facial disfigurement, lacerations, vision loss and nerve damage.Maria filed a lawsuit against Brown in 2021, and the case was settled in June 2026.
Chris Brown admits he ‘warned’ the housekeeper about the dogs
Before the two-week trial, Brown admitted partial liability for negligence but disputed the severity of Maria’s injuries and argued that he was responsible for the incident.Testifying on June 18, Brown said he personally warned Maria and Patricia that the dogs on the property were “not at all” friendly. He shared that the dog was bought to guard the property and help protect the house from intruders. “I get into a lot of stalker-type situations,” he told the jury.
Lawyers’ reaction to the verdict
After the verdict, attorney Michael C. Murphy Jr. said, “We’re glad we got justice for our client, Patricia. We’re so happy for her and her family after everything they went through that terrible day. It was an honor to represent her.”