Chris Brown has been ordered to pay close to $13 million in damages after a widely watched civil lawsuit tied to a brutal dog attack at his California residence. A Los Angeles jury ruled that the American singer and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, were negligent after his 200 pound Caucasian shepherd allegedly attacked his housekeeper, Maria Avila. According to Billboard, the decision concludes a hard fought two week trial centered on the devastating incident that took place in 2020.
The case focused on a terrifying incident at Brown's home in Tarzana, where the dog, Hades, reportedly mauled Avila as she was taking out the household trash. The attack left her with permanent facial injuries, serious nerve damage, and partial vision loss. During the trial, jurors heard testimony claiming Brown drove away from the property shortly after the attack instead of helping Avila or contacting emergency responders. Brown later admitted he left because his manager advised him to do so, explaining that he panicked after seeing the amount of blood and wanted to avoid attracting media attention.
Although Brown accepted a measure of responsibility before the trial began, his legal team challenged how severe Avila's injuries were and argued that she shared some of the blame. Brown said he had warned employees that the guard dogs were extremely dangerous, but both Avila and her sister rejected that claim, saying no such warning was ever communicated because of a language barrier. Avila also told the court that the lasting scars on her arm and the emotional trauma she continues to experience have made it impossible for her to return to work.
Billboard also reported that the jury awarded an additional $885,000 to Avila's sister, Patricia, who witnessed the attack, as well as $50,000 to Maria's husband, Oscar Olivo. Attorneys representing the family said they were grateful for the outcome, describing the verdict as long awaited justice after five years of legal proceedings. The ruling comes as Brown remains on a major North American tour and ahead of a separate criminal trial he is expected to face in the United Kingdom later this year over an alleged nightclub incident.
NEWS
Eric Hutchinson is finally making his way back to Australia after a 16 year absence, with three East Coast theater dates locked in for November. The shows will also mark his first headline tour across the country.
The short run will begin at Brisbane's Lefty's Music Hall on Nov. 19 before heading to Melbourne's Northcote Social Club on Nov. 20. It wraps up in Sydney with a performance at The Lansdowne on Nov. 21.
Hutchinson's connection with Australia has always been a unique one. His breakthrough in the country came after his song "Rock & Roll" was featured on the Australian drama Packed to the Rafters, helping the track earn platinum certification and climb to No. 1 in 2009. He previously visited Australia as a support act for Jason Mraz and Kelly Clarkson during tours in 2008 and 2009, but he never had the chance to return with a headline show of his own.
"I honestly have no idea why I never came back to Australia, other than the fact that it's super far away from New York City, where I live," he said in a statement, adding that the timing finally aligned after years of fan requests.
Back in the United States, the success of "Rock & Roll" followed a different path. The song became Hutchinson's first gold certified single in the country, although it did not enter the Hot 100. The album Sounds Like This originally found its audience as an independent release after a Perez Hilton endorsement helped it climb to No. 5 on the iTunes Store in September 2007. It later debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart before receiving a broader release through Warner Bros. Records in May 2008. Since then, Hutchinson has continued putting out new albums while growing a loyal fanbase through consistent touring.
The Australian dates are in support of Hutchinson's latest album, the 2026 release Repeating Myself, which has been described as a return to the piano driven pop and soul style that first introduced him to many listeners. Fans can also expect to hear familiar favorites including "Rock & Roll," "OK, It's Alright With Me" and "A Little More."
Marshall Hamburger, winner of the tenth season of Australian Idol in 2025, has been announced as the opening act for all three shows.
Eric Hutchinson Australian Tour
Presented by Teamwrk Touring & MRG Live
Thursday, Nov. 19 — Lefty's Music Hall, Brisbane
Friday, Nov. 20 — Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Saturday, Nov. 21 — The Lansdowne, Sydney
