Chris Brown Could Face New Trial Over $12.9M Dog Attack Verdict
Chris Brown could face another trial over the damages awarded to his former housekeeper in a dog attack case. A Los Angeles judge ruled that Brown and his company, Black…
Chris Brown could face another trial over the damages awarded to his former housekeeper in a dog attack case. A Los Angeles judge ruled that Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, can receive a new trial focused only on damages unless Maria Avila agrees to reduce her $12.9 million award to $9.5 million.
According to legal documents obtained and reported by Complex, Los Angeles judge Huey P. Cotton found that the jury's $12.9 million award was excessive. However, Cotton denied Brown's other motions challenging the verdict.
Avila now has until Oct. 2 to decide whether to accept the $9.5 million award or take the damages portion of the case back to trial.
Judge Says $12.9 Million Award Was Excessive
The original jury award came after Avila alleged that she was attacked by Hades, a 200-pound Caucasian Shepherd, at Brown's Tarzana home on December 12, 2020.
Avila said the dog tore away large sections of her skin, leaving her with permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, and vision loss.
Jurors awarded Avila $12.9 million in June. Her sister, Patricia Avila, received $885,000, while her husband, Oscar Olivo, was awarded $50,000. Judgment was entered July 16.
Judge Cotton later determined that the $12.9 million figure was not fully supported by the evidence. He pointed to insufficient evidence of permanent nerve damage and questioned the dollar value the jury assigned to Avila's future pain and suffering.
Cotton did, however, credit evidence that Avila faces future humiliation, shame, and embarrassment.
Brown's Other Challenges Were Denied
Brown also challenged several other parts of the trial, but those arguments were rejected.
Cotton denied Brown's claim that jurors were tainted by the admission of his 2009 felony assault conviction involving Rihanna.
The judge also rejected Brown's objections to excluding testimony about monetary help his security chief, Emil Lewis, gave Avila's family.
Brown had additionally raised concerns about the instructions jurors received regarding damages. Cotton rejected those arguments as well.
As a result, the latest ruling does not throw out the jury's finding against Brown. Instead, it focuses on how much money Avila should receive.
Brown Said He Warned Avila About the Dogs
During the trial, Brown testified that he had warned Avila that the dogs were "absolutely not" friendly.
He also said he told her not to go outside alone and described the animals as a security measure rather than pets.
Avila's account of the incident remained central to the case, with her injuries forming the basis for the damages awarded by the jury.
Now, the dispute has shifted from whether Avila should receive damages to how much she should receive.
Avila Must Choose Between $9.5 Million and a New Trial
The latest ruling gives Avila two options. She can accept the judge's reduced $9.5 million award, or she can reject it and have the damages portion of the case retried.
The two sides have already discussed lowering the award. Earlier this month, Avila's lawyer Nancy Doumanian told the court that cutting the award to $8 million was too steep and proposed $11 million instead.
Judge Cotton's current figure is $9.5 million.
Avila has until Oct. 2 to tell the court whether she will accept the reduced award or move forward with another damages trial. For Brown, the ruling means the $12.9 million verdict has been reduced, but the legal dispute over the case is still ongoing.
