AceShowbiz - A California jury handed down a nearly $13 million verdict against Chris Brown in a lawsuit stemming from a 2020 dog attack, Thatgrapejuice reports. The decision came after the jury awarded $12.9 million to Maria Avila, a former housekeeper, for injuries sustained during the incident, which occurred outside Brown’s Tarzana residence in December 2020.

Billboard further details that Maria Avila suffered permanent facial disfigurement, scarring, vision impairment, and nerve damage from the attack by a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd dog named Hades. The jury also granted Maria’s sister Patricia Avila nearly $885,000 for emotional distress, while Patricia’s husband Oscar Olivo received $50,000 as part of the verdict. The New York Times confirms that the award covers physical injuries, emotional suffering, and medical expenses tied to the dog bite.

Maria Avila filed the lawsuit in 2021, and prior to the trial, Brown accepted some negligence but contested the extent of her injuries and her responsibility. According to Billboard, Brown testified that he had warned the Avilas about the dogs on his property and claimed that Hades was owned by his security team, not him personally. Brown also maintained that the sisters should not have been outside without security present.

Chris Brown is an R&B singer known for his extensive music career and acting roles, including appearances in This Christmas, Stomp the Yard, and The O.C.. He has earned multiple nominations for major awards such as the American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards, notably for songs like "Go Crazy" and albums like "Slime & B."

This ruling underscores the legal consequences tied to the incident that caused lasting harm to Brown’s former employee and her family members, reflecting accountability in cases involving personal injury on private property.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Thatgrapejuice.