US judge may reduce payout in singer Chris Brown case — Rolling Stone
Judge Huey P. Cotton of the Los Angeles County Superior Court in the United States indicated that he is inclined to substantially reduce the $12.9 million compensation that a jury awarded to housekeeper Maria Avila in a case over a dog attack near singer Chris Brown's home in 2020. The amount could reportedly be reduced to about $8 million if Avila does not opt for a retrial.
Rolling Stone reports this. During the hearing, Avila's attorney Nancy Doumanian asked for compensation to be set at $11 million, emphasizing the severity and irreversible nature of her client's injuries. The judge indicated that he does not intend to reconsider the overall size of the proposed reduction, but is prepared to consider the allocation of the amount among various components of compensation, including $900,000 for future medical expenses.
Injuries and compensation
The jury awarded Avila $12.9 million after a two-week trial in June. The woman said that on December 12, 2020, she went outside the house to empty a vacuum cleaner bag when a large Caucasian Shepherd dog named Hades attacked her without warning. According to her, the attack left her with severe injuries to her arm and face, significant scarring and post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Avila's attorney referred to testimony from the surgeon who treated the woman on the day of the attack and later performed reconstructive surgeries. According to his testimony, Avila suffered serious radial nerve damage, which limited the mobility of her wrist and fingers and complicated everyday activities. The doctor also spoke of neurological disorders in the facial area, including increased sensitivity to pain.
Brown's position
Chris Brown testified at the trial and said he heard the dog growling, went downstairs and saw Avila on the ground. According to him, he locked up the dog, called a security guard for help and checked whether the woman was breathing. The singer acknowledged that he did not personally call 911, explaining that he feared a recording of the call could end up in the media.
Before the trial began, Brown admitted negligence under California's dog-bite law, but disputed the claimed extent of Avila's injuries and argued that she was partly responsible for the incident because she went outside alone.
