Chris Brown $90 Million Lawsuit Dog Bite Trial Ends in Mistrial

Chris Brown’s $90 million dog bite lawsuit has hit a sudden pause after a judge declared a mistrial shortly after proceedings began.

The case involves Maria Avila, Brown’s former housekeeper, who claims she suffered serious physical and emotional injuries after being attacked by a large dog while working at the singer’s Los Angeles home in 2020. Avila says the incident happened while she was taking out the trash at the property.

A jury had already been selected and the trial began on Monday, but the court proceedings did not last long. The judge dismissed the jury and declared a mistrial after concerns were raised about a juror allegedly looking up information about the case before the trial started and sharing details with others.

Brown appeared in court as part of the legal battle and was seen leaving after the mistrial was declared. When asked about the sudden development, the singer appeared calm and said, “It happens.” He was also asked about Avila seeking $90 million in damages, to which he responded, “That’s crazy.”

Avila’s lawsuit claims the dog attack caused severe injuries, including damage to her arms, face and neck. Brown has denied wrongdoing and has argued in legal filings that Avila is responsible for her alleged injuries.

Before the trial began, Brown’s legal team had successfully pushed to block references to his 2009 domestic violence case involving Rihanna from being mentioned in court. Avila’s side, meanwhile, had sought to present photos showing the injuries she says she suffered in the dog attack.

The case has also included claims from Brown’s security guard, who said in a deposition that he paid Avila and her family between $30,000 and $40,000 after the incident.

For now, the trial has ended before the case could fully move forward. A new trial process is expected to be needed if the lawsuit continues.