Jury orders Chris Brown to pay $13 million to housekeeper mauled by his dog in 2020 attack
Los Angeles jurors ruled that singer Chris Brown and his company must pay $12.9 million to Maria Avila, who was permanently disfigured when his 90kg Caucasian shepherd attacked her while she worked at his Tarzana home.
A California jury found Chris Brown liable for negligence after his dog, Hades, violently attacked housekeeper Maria Avila on December 12, 2020. The two-week trial concluded on June 30, 2026, with a verdict awarding nearly $13 million in damages.
The attack
Avila was emptying the rubbish outside Brown's Tarzana property when the massive Caucasian shepherd, kept for home security, attacked without warning. The dog ripped off large pieces of skin, causing permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, partial vision loss, and nerve damage. Avila spent five days in hospital alone due to pandemic restrictions and later required multiple surgeries, including skin grafts from her abdomen to reconstruct her left arm.
I will never be the same again.
The trial
During the proceedings, Brown testified that the dog was not his personal pet and that he had warned Avila and her sister Patricia, who also worked at the house, that the animals were "absolutely not" friendly. He claimed Avila was partly at fault for going outside without security. Avila, testifying in Spanish through an interpreter, denied ever receiving such a warning, saying her English was too limited for that conversation.
The blood scared me. I was in shock.
Brown admitted to leaving the scene before emergency services arrived, following his agent's advice to avoid a media spectacle. His employees tended to the critically injured housekeeper. The jury heard that he feared his voice on the 911 call would cause a "media circus."
- Maria Avila mauled by Chris Brown's dog, Hades, while working at his Tarzana home.
- Jury finds Brown and Black Pyramid LLC liable, awards $12.9 million to Avila.
The verdict
Jurors held Brown and his company Black Pyramid LLC liable, ordering them to pay $12.9 million to Maria Avila. Her sister Patricia, who witnessed the attack, received $885,000 for emotional distress. Avila's husband Oscar Olivo was awarded $50,000, having argued the injury harmed their marriage. Attorney Michael C. Murphy Jr., representing Patricia Avila, said the family was "elated" that justice was served after more than five years of litigation.
Aftermath
Avila's daughter testified about her mother's transformation. Once a woman who enjoyed dressing up and socializing, she now avoids public places and does not want anyone to see her face. The nerve damage and hypersensitivity on her left side still make sleeping and daily tasks difficult. She can no longer scrub floors or wring a mop, leaving her unable to return to work as a housekeeper. The award comes as Brown continues his co-headlining tour with Usher across the United States.
She no longer likes to go out or be around people. She doesn't want anyone to see her face.
