Maria Avila accepts $9.5 million settlement in Chris Brown dog attack case

Maria Avila, the former housekeeper for singer Chris Brown, has accepted a reduced $9.5 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit stemming from a 2020 dog attack at Brown’s Tarzana, California, residence.

Following a June jury verdict that originally awarded Avila $12.9 million, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Huey P. Cotton ruled the initial amount was excessive. The judge cited insufficient evidence to support claims regarding permanent nerve damage and certain future medical complications. To avoid a new trial focused solely on determining the appropriate damages, Avila chose to accept the court-mandated reduction.

The $9.5 million settlement is structured to include $3.85 million for past non-economic losses, $5.4 million for future non-economic losses, and $250,000 for future medical expenses. The incident occurred on December 12, 2020, when a 200-pound Caucasian Shepherd named Hades attacked Avila while she was working. Avila testified that the mauling resulted in significant facial and arm injuries, permanent scarring, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Additionally, Avila’s sister, Patricia, who witnessed the attack, was awarded $885,000 for emotional distress and economic damages, a decision the judge upheld. Brown had previously argued for a new trial based on various grounds, including juror bias, but those motions were rejected.