Chris Brown Seeks New Trial Over $13 Million Dog Attack Verdict

Musician Chris Brown is seeking a new trial following a jury's decision on March 18, 2024, to award $12.9 million in damages to his former housekeeper, Maria Avila. Avila sustained severe injuries in 2020 when Brown's 200-pound shepherd guard dog, named Hades, attacked her at his Tarzana, California residence. Brown's legal team filed court documents, as first reported by TMZ, arguing that the inclusion of testimony regarding his past assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna unfairly influenced the jury's verdict. Avila recounted the attack during the trial, stating she was taking out the trash when the dog mauled her, tearing "large chunks of skin" from her arm and face, necessitating multiple sutures and skin grafts. She also testified to suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and nerve damage, which has impacted her ability to work. Brown, who was present during the incident, testified that he confined the dog to a kennel afterward. He described being "freaked out" by the amount of blood and in a state of "shock" upon realizing the severity of Avila's injuries, noting that the skin around her nose and under her eye appeared "severed." He stated, "You could see the skin was kind of raised. You could see the cut and the blood coming out. … It was a lot of blood," according to Rolling Stone. Brown's security guard summoned an ambulance, but Brown admitted to leaving the property before emergency services arrived. The housekeeper's lawsuit sought compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The jury's award of $12.9 million includes compensatory and punitive damages. Brown's home, where the attack occurred, was valued at $6 million. The legal challenge by Brown centers on the argument that the jury's exposure to details of his 2009 assault conviction involving Rihanna prejudiced their judgment in the civil case concerning the dog attack. This motion for a new trial suggests a potential appeal strategy to overturn the substantial financial judgment against him. The outcome of this motion will determine whether the original verdict stands or if a new trial will be ordered to re-examine the evidence and arguments presented.