Chris Brown granted new trial on damages in housekeeper dog attack case

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has granted singer Chris Brown a request for a new trial regarding damages in a lawsuit filed by his former housekeeper, Maria Avila. The judge ruled that the original jury award of approximately $12.9 million was “excessive.”

Judge Huey P. Cotton issued a conditional order stating that Avila may avoid a new trial on damages if she agrees to accept a reduced award of $9.5 million. The judge noted there was “insufficient evidence of permanent nerve damage and of the value assigned to future pain and suffering” to justify the initial multimillion-dollar verdict.

The legal battle stems from a December 2020 incident at Brown’s Tarzana, California, home, where Avila was attacked by a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd named Hades. Avila testified that the attack caused serious injuries, including facial wounds, scarring, and nerve damage. While Brown accepted some liability for the incident, he argued during the trial that Avila was partially at fault after he had warned her not to go outside unaccompanied.

While the judge rejected Brown’s arguments regarding juror bias, the ruling provides the singer with significant leverage to reduce the total payout. Avila’s legal team has not yet announced whether they will accept the lower amount or proceed to a new trial.