Chris Brown Dog-Mauling Accuser’s $12.9M Award Could Be Slashed

A woman awarded nearly $13 million after suing Chris Brown over a 2020 dog attack may ultimately receive substantially less, as a judge considers cutting millions from the jury’s verdict.

According to Rolling Stone, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Huey P. Cotton has issued a tentative ruling that could reduce the $12.9 million award by more than $5 million. That would amount to a reduction approaching 40 percent, although the court has not yet finalized the revised amount.

Maria Avila, who was working as a housekeeper at the time of the incident, sued Brown after she was attacked by one of his dogs. She told jurors the attack caused serious injuries to her face and arm, leaving extensive scarring along with ongoing physical and emotional effects.

Avila’s attorney, Nancy Doumanian, argued during a court hearing Thursday that the original award reflected the severity and lasting nature of those injuries. She said Avila continues to experience complications, including nerve-related problems connected to the attack.

Judge Weighs Reduction in Chris Brown Dog Attack Case

While Judge Cotton appeared unlikely to reverse his decision to reduce the overall damages, he indicated that he would consider additional arguments regarding how much should be removed from the jury’s award.

Doumanian urged the court to make a smaller reduction, arguing that cutting more than $5 million would go too far given Avila’s condition.

She asked the judge to reduce the award to approximately $11 million instead of adopting the larger reduction currently under consideration.

Brown’s attorneys previously requested a new trial following the jury’s verdict. His legal team argued that the damages awarded were excessive and also objected to jurors being told about Brown’s prior felony conviction.

Although jurors were informed that Brown had a felony conviction, they were not provided with details about the circumstances surrounding that case.

A final decision on the amount Avila will receive has not yet been issued.