The woman who was awarded nearly $13M in court after suing Chris Brown over a 2020 dog attack could see the judgment cut down significantly. According to Rolling Stone, a judge’s tentative decision to reduce the damages could potentially see her award cut down to as much as 40% as the judge contemplated a tentative proposal that would eliminate more than $5M from the jury’s award. The final number, however, has yet to be determined.
Maria Avila, who worked as a housekeeper, was awarded $12.9 million after telling jurors that an attack by Brown’s dog left her with serious injuries to her arm and face, extensive scarring, and lasting physical and emotional consequences. During a court hearing on Thursday, her attorney, Nancy Doumanian, argued that the evidence presented at trial supported substantial compensation because Avila continues to experience problems stemming from the attack, including nerve-related impairment.
Chris Brown Dog Accuser's Judgment
Judge Huey P. Cotton appeared reluctant to reconsider the overall reduction but said he would review arguments concerning how the damages should be divided.
“If your honor is convinced that some [scaling back] is warranted, then I’d ask for a lesser reduction. The magnitude of the current reduction is almost 40 percent. That’s over $5 million,” Avila’s lawyer, Nancy Doumanian, said. “Given the gravity and permanence of the injuries that Miss Avila had, we’d ask for a reduction to $11 million, your honor, not what the court is proposing.”
Following the verdict, Chris Brown’s legal team asked for a new trial. They argued that the damages were excessive and challenged the admission of evidence concerning his prior felony conviction, though they didn’t hear the details surrounding the conviction.
