Singer Chris Brown Ordered to Pay Housekeeper $13m After Dog Attack

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American singer Chris Brown has been ordered to pay his former housekeeper, Maria Avila, $12.9 million in damages after one of his dogs attacked her, causing severe injuries. The attack occurred in 2020 at Brown's home in Tarzana, California, where Avila was taking out the rubbish when she was attacked by a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd named Hades.

And according to Avila, the injuries she sustained were severe and lasting. She told the court that the dog caused permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, vision loss, and nerve damage. In fact, Avila underwent multiple surgeries, including skin grafts from her abdomen to repair her arm. She said the injuries have left her with permanent scars, reduced mobility, and post-traumatic stress, preventing her from returning to work as a housekeeper.

So what exactly happened on that day in 2020? According to Brown, he was preparing to shower when he heard the dog growling and found Avila on the ground covered in blood. He told the jury that he 'was in shock at the time' and left the property, which led to accusations that he abandoned Avila in her hour of need. But Brown testified that he left on the advice of his manager, who was concerned his presence could attract media attention.

Yet, despite his claims of shock and confusion, Avila and her sister Patricia denied receiving any warning from Brown about the dangers of the dogs on the property. They said that language differences would have made such a conversation unlikely. Patricia's lawyer, Michael C. Murphy, welcomed the verdict, saying 'After more than five years of litigating against Chris Brown, we are thrilled that we were able to get justice for our client, Patricia.'

The jury also awarded Patricia $885,000 in damages, while Maria Avila's husband, Oscar Olivo, received $50,000. Although Brown acknowledged some responsibility before the trial, he disputed the extent of Avila's injuries and argued that she bore part of the responsibility for the incident.

Maria Avila described the lasting impact of the attack, telling the court she could no longer work as a housekeeper due to her injuries. 'The blood kind of freaked me out,' Brown is reported to have said, but it's clear that the real victim here was Avila, who has been left to pick up the pieces of her shattered life.

The dog attack is just the latest in a string of controversies surrounding Brown, who was charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend Rihanna back in 2009. His reputation has never fully recovered from that incident, and this latest setback will only add to the scrutiny he faces.

In a further twist, Brown maintained that the dog was kept for security purposes rather than as a personal pet. He argued that he had warned workers not to go outside unless security personnel were present because the dogs were not friendly. However, it's worth noting that Brown's property in Tarzana, California, is a significant investment, worth tens of millions of dollars.

Despite his protests of innocence, the jury found Brown liable for negligence in the civil lawsuit, and it remains to be seen how he will react to the verdict. Will he appeal, or will he pay the $12.9 million damages and move on? Whatever his next move, one thing is clear: the consequences of his actions will be felt by Avila and her family for a long time to come.