The high-profile legal battle surrounding Chris Brown and his former housekeeper has taken a major turn. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Huey P. Cotton ruled that the original $12.9 million jury award given to former housekeeper Maria Avila was “excessive,” presenting her with a critical choice moving forward. Avila can either accept a reduced settlement of $9.5 million or head back to court for an entirely new trial focused strictly on damages.
The ongoing legal conflict stems from a terrifying 2000 incident at Brown’s Tarzana home, where one of his dogs severely attacked Avila while she was working. Following a trial that put the harrowing details on display, a jury originally handed down the multi-million dollar verdict to account for her severe injuries and trauma. While the judge rejected arguments for a complete redo of the trial based on jury bias, he determined that there was insufficient evidence to fully support the massive extent of the original damages amount.
Notably, the judge’s latest order leaves a separate $855,000 award untouched for Avila’s sister, who was also present during the property attack. As Avila’s legal team weighs their options between taking the guaranteed $9.5 million or risking a new jury trial, the entertainment world continues to closely monitor the fallout.
