Chris Brown appeared in court to address allegations that his former housekeeper was mauled by one of his dogs at his Los Angeles home. The trial was declared a mistrial shortly after proceedings began, before any substantial testimony could be heard.
Maria Avila, the housekeeper involved, filed the lawsuit claiming she suffered physical and emotional injuries after being attacked while taking out trash at Brown’s residence. Jurors were selected Monday morning and the trial commenced, but the proceedings came to an abrupt halt when the judge determined a mistrial was necessary.
According to Rolling Stone, the mistrial was declared after a juror conducted independent research about the case before trial started and discussed findings with other jury members. Such conduct violates standard courtroom procedure, which requires jurors to base decisions solely on evidence presented during proceedings.
Walking out of the courthouse, Brown appeared relaxed and in good spirits while speaking with photographers.
When asked about the mistrial, he kept his response brief. “It happens,” he said.
Regarding Avila’s request for $90 million in damages, Chris Brown dismissed the figure. “That’s crazy,” he told photographers.
Rather than dwelling on the courtroom situation, Brown shifted focus to his upcoming music plans. He encouraged fans to prepare for his co-headlining tour with Usher, signaling that he’s moving forward with his schedule regardless of the legal proceedings.
Avila originally filed suit over an incident in 2020 when she claimed one of Brown’s dogs attacked her while she was cleaning his home. She alleged the attack resulted in severe injuries, including torn skin on her arms and damage to her face and neck.
Brown has maintained his innocence throughout the legal process, contending that Avila bears responsibility for any injuries sustained. Both parties exchanged various legal filings in the months leading up to what turned out to be an abbreviated trial.
Brown successfully convinced the judge to prevent any references to his 2009 domestic violence case involving Rihanna. Meanwhile, Avila’s legal team pushed to introduce photographic evidence of her alleged injuries from the dog attack.
During depositions, Brown’s security guard claimed he paid Avila and her family between $30,000 and $40,000 following the incident, a detail that would likely have become significant if the trial had continued.
For now, the case has effectively stalled before reaching a verdict.
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