Chris Brown Is Ordered To Pay His Housekeeper $13 Million in Damages After She Was Attacked by His Dog at His California Home

Chris Brown has been directed to pay his housekeeper $13 million after she was mauled by his 200- pound dog while at his $6 million California home.

A jury ruled that the 37-year-old "Yo" hitmaker, who has previously stated he has a net worth of $100 million, must pay $12.9 million in damages to Maria Avila, who was brutally attacked by Hades, Brown's 200-lb Caucasian shepherd, whom he used as a guard dog.

Avila claimed she was left with several serious injuries following the incident, which took place in 2020 at Brown's Tarzana, CA, property.

She recounted the horrific event in court, telling the jury that she had been taking the trash out at the property when she was attacked by the dog. She said Hades tore "large chunks of skin" from her body, causing significant injuries to her arm and her face that required several sutures and skin grafts.

Avila also claimed that she has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and nerve damage which has made it difficult for her to work.

Brown, who was present at the time of the attack, told the jury in his testimony that he put the dog in a kennel after it hurt his housekeeper.

The musician admitted that he had been left "freaked out" by the amount of blood at the scene, telling the jury that he was in a state of "shock" when he realized what had happened.

Speaking about his housekeeper's condition in the wake of the attack, Brown said that the area around her nose and under her eye appeared "severed," gesturing to his own face to demonstrate the area he was referring to.

"It was cut, like, severed," he said, according to Rolling Stone. "I know it’s graphic, but you could see the skin was kind of raised. You could see the cut and the blood coming out … It was a lot of blood.

He added that his security guard called an ambulance, but admitted that he left the property before the emergency services arrived because he wanted to avoid a potential "media circus."

"I didn’t want a misleading story, or like a circus, from my status. It’s pretty sticky when it comes to that. So me staying out of the way was advised," he said.

Brown further stated that he felt the need to have a guard dog at his home because he had dealt with "a lot of stalker-type situations" as a result of his fame.

However, while he conceded that his guard dog was "absolutely not" friendly, he claimed that he had previously warned his housekeeper of the danger posed by Hades, alleging that he told both her and her sister, Patricia, to not go outside without his permission.

Avila, who primarily speaks Spanish and gave her testimony via an interpreter, insisted that this conversation had not ever taken place, claiming the language barrier would not have made such a discussion possible.

Brown also disputed the extent of his housekeeper's injuries.

Avila first sued the R&B star in 2021, however, the lengthy legal fight has only just reached its conclusion, as first reported by Billboard.

Patricia—who was present at the property and working with her sister at the time of the attack—was also awarded $885,000 for emotional distress, while the housekeeper's spouse, Oscar Olivo—who claimed that his physical relationship with his wife had been severely impacted by the incident and her injuries—was given $50,000.

Michael C Murphy Jr, a lawyer for Patricia, told Rolling Stone: “After more than five years of litigating against Chris Brown, we are thrilled that we were able to get justice for our client, Patricia. We are so happy for her and her family after everything they went through on that horrible day.”

Brown purchased the 8,300-square-foot property in 2015 for $4.3 million; however, Realtor.com® now estimates the home is worth $6 million.

The property comes complete with six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and several lavish areas such as a theater room with 14 reclining seats.

Brown's home is known for its extensive security. In addition to Hades, the home is also outfitted with 16 security cameras.

This isn't the first time the property has made headlines. In 2019, the home became the center of public attention when Brown hosted a public yard sale on the premises and shared the address.

The dog attack is the latest in a line of lawsuits that the actor has been met with.

In 2009, he was arrested for physically assaulting his then-girlfriend and pop sensation, Rihanna.

He pled guilty and was sentenced to community service. He was also put on probation for five years.

In 2014, he violated the terms of his probation and was put behind bars for 131 days.

In 2016, he settled a claim that he assaulted another girlfriend, Karrueche Tran, who received a restraining order against him.

In 2023, it was alleged that Brown assaulted music producer Abraham Diaw, at a Mayfair members’ club. He was arrested in 2025 and charged with grievous bodily harm with intent. He pleaded not guilty. His trial in October.

Brown, meanwhile, has sued a woman for allegedly defaming him after she accused him of raping her on yacht in 2020.

Brown also tried to launch a $500 million lawsuit against the makers of a documentary, "Chris Brown: A History of Violence." The judge dismissed the case.