Chris Brown ordered to pay $13m over dog attack on housekeeper

A jury in Los Angeles has found singer Chris Brown liable for a 2020 dog attack that severely injured his housekeeper Maria Avila. The jury awarded Avila $12.9 million for negligence, with an additional $885,000 to her sister Patricia and $50,000 to Avila's husband Oscar Olivo. The attack occurred at Brown's home in Tarzana, California, when Avila was emptying rubbish and was attacked by Brown's 200lb Caucasian shepherd named Hades. Avila suffered permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, vision loss, and nerve damage. Brown claimed the dog was a security animal and not his personal pet. During the trial, testimony revealed that Brown fled the scene after the attack, fearing a 'media circus,' and left employees to care for Avila. Brown admitted some culpability but argued Avila was partially at fault. Avila's sister Patricia was also working at the time of the attack. Brown is currently on tour in the US with Usher and faces a separate trial in the UK in October over an alleged assault on a music producer.