Chris Brown has won a partial legal victory in a lawsuit involving a former housekeeper who was attacked by a dog at his California home.
A Los Angeles County judge ruled that Maria Avila must either accept a reduced $9.5 million damages award or face a new trial focused only on damages. She has until Oct. 2 to decide.
A jury previously awarded Avila $12.9 million after finding Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, responsible for damages tied to the Dec. 12, 2020, attack at Brown’s Tarzana home.
Avila was working as a housekeeper when she was attacked by Hades, Brown’s Caucasian shepherd. She sought damages for medical expenses, pain, emotional distress, scarring, and other injuries.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Huey P. Cotton determined that the original award was excessive based on the evidence presented at trial.
The ruling does not overturn Brown’s liability in the case. Instead, it gives Avila the option of accepting $9.5 million or asking another jury to determine the amount of damages.
Brown had acknowledged negligence under California dog-bite law before trial but disputed the amount of compensation Avila should receive.
The jury also awarded Avila’s sister, Patricia Avila, $885,000 for damages connected to witnessing the attack. Maria Avila’s husband, Oscar Olivo, received $50,000.
Avila’s attorney has maintained that medical evidence supports claims about the long-term effects of the attack.
Her decision on whether to accept the reduced award is due Oct. 2.
