Chris Brown seeks retrial in $12.9 million dog attack verdict

Chris Brown is seeking to overturn a $12.9 million judgment awarded to a former housekeeper, Maria Avila, following a 2020 dog attack at his home. Brown’s legal team has filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that the damages awarded are “excessive” and that the jury was unfairly prejudiced by testimony regarding his past.

Specifically, Brown’s attorneys contend that references to his 2009 felony assault conviction involving Rihanna were irrelevant to the dog bite lawsuit but were nonetheless included in the proceedings. Although Brown’s camp had requested that the judge ban any mention of the conviction prior to the trial, the singer was asked during cross-examination if he had prior convictions, to which he replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

The lawsuit stems from an incident in December 2020, where Avila alleged she was attacked by a 200-pound Caucasian Shepherd while working at Brown’s residence, resulting in severe injuries to her face and arms. While Brown’s team admitted partial responsibility for the incident, they maintain that the jury's perception was shaped by unrelated historical controversies rather than the facts of the attack.