Chris Brown Reportedly Challenges $12.9 Million Dog Bite Verdict

Chris Brown's legal battle over a dog attack at his California home is far from over. Just weeks after a jury ordered him to pay nearly $13 million to his former housekeeper, the singer is asking the court for another chance.

Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, have officially filed paperwork declaring their intention to challenge the verdict, keeping the high-profile case alive as he continues touring across the country.

According to TMZ, the filing came two weeks after the judgment was officially entered on July 16. Brown argues that mistakes made during the trial prevented a fair outcome and that the damages awarded to the plaintiff were too high.

The filing lists four reasons Brown believes the verdict should be challenged. Those include alleged irregularities during the proceedings that prevented a fair trial, jury misconduct, insufficient new findings establishing innocence, and an excessive damages award for the plaintiff.

The request comes after a Los Angeles Superior Court jury returned its verdict on June 30, finding Brown and Black Pyramid LLC liable for injuries suffered by former housekeeper Maria Avila.

The lawsuit centered on an incident that happened on December 12, 2020, when Avila was emptying trash at Brown's Tarzana home. During that time, Hades, Brown's 200-pound Caucasian shepherd, attacked her.

The jury heard testimony describing the severe injuries Avila suffered during the attack. According to court records, as reported by multiple outlets, she was left with lasting facial disfigurement, visible scarring, partial vision loss, and nerve damage.

While testifying, Avila said she could only remember "flashes" of the attack. She also had to leave the courtroom when graphic photographs of her injuries were shown during opening statements.

Her daughter shared an emotional account of the moments after the attack, recalling a phone call from her aunt.

"Your mom can't breathe. She keeps passing out on me. The ambulance is still not here. Chris Brown fled the scene."

Brown also testified during the trial. He acknowledged that he never physically helped Avila after the attack, did not offer her water or comfort, and left the property before paramedics arrived.

He also admitted he did not personally call 911.

"I feared a recording would be leaked to the media."

Brown told jurors he instead drove around for a couple of hours before eventually stopping at a gas station.

When asked why he left the property, Brown explained:

"Because of how my image is and always used. I didn't want a misleading story, or like a circus, from my status. So me staying out of the way was advised."

Brown's defense also argued that he had warned Avila the dogs were "absolutely not" friendly and claimed Hades had been purchased by members of his security team rather than being kept as his personal pet. The jury ultimately rejected those arguments.

Although Brown is challenging the $12.9 million judgment awarded to Maria Avila, the total amount awarded in the case is even higher.

The jury also awarded Avila's sister, Patricia Avila, $885,000 for emotional distress and her husband, Oscar Olivo, $50,000. Together, the combined judgment totals roughly $13.835 million.

The judgment has not yet been paid.

On July 23, Avila's attorney, Nancy Doumanian, filed a motion asking the court to freeze Brown's touring accounts. According to Billboard, the filing states that Brown and Black Pyramid LLC "have made no effort to satisfy any portion of the judgment."

The motion also says efforts to contact Brown's attorneys regarding payment went unanswered. Meanwhile, interest continues to build on the unpaid balance each day.

Brown is currently co-headlining The R&B Tour with Usher, a Live Nation-promoted stadium tour that launched on June 26 and is scheduled to continue through December with more than 50 dates. Court filings argue that if revenue from the tour is not enough to satisfy the judgment, royalties, licensing agreements, merchandise sales, and sponsorship deals could also be considered as possible sources of payment.

For now, the next major chapter in the case is scheduled for September 22, when the court will hear Brown's request for a new trial. The hearing falls between The R&B Tour's scheduled stadium stops in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, meaning the legal battle will continue alongside his busy performance schedule.