Chris Brown ordered to pay US$12.9m after housekeeper mauled by guard dog

LOS ANGELES, July 3 — R&B star Chris Brown has been ordered to pay US$12.9 million (RM52 million) in damages after a housekeeper was attacked by a guard dog at one of his California properties.

The Guardian reported that Maria Avila was working at Brown’s home in Tarzana in 2020 when she was mauled by a Caucasian shepherd named Hades, which was used as a security dog on the premises.

Avila told the court in Van Nuys that she suffered severe injuries to her arm and face, requiring multiple sutures and skin grafts, and was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and nerve damage that affected her ability to work.

Brown, who was present during the incident, told the court he secured the dog after the attack and left the property before emergency services arrived, saying he wanted to avoid a “media circus” due to his public profile.

He also said the guard dog was necessary due to frequent security concerns, including “stalker-type situations”. 

While he admitted negligence, he disputed the extent of Avila’s injuries and claimed she had been warned about the animal — a claim she denied.

Avila filed the lawsuit in 2021, and a jury has now ruled in her favour. 

Her sister, Patricia Avila, was also awarded US$885,000 for emotional distress, while her husband received US$50,000 in damages.

Brown’s legal representative has not commented publicly on the ruling.

The case adds to a long history of legal controversies involving the singer. 

Brown, one of the US’s most commercially successful R&B artists, is currently on tour with Usher.

He previously pleaded guilty in 2009 to assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna, served probation and community service, and was jailed in 2014 for violating probation terms. 

He has also faced multiple civil lawsuits and ongoing criminal proceedings, including a UK assault case in which he has pleaded not guilty.

Despite his legal troubles, Brown remains a major figure in global R&B, with multiple platinum-certified albums and continued international touring activity.