A civil lawsuit against Chris Brown for $90 million ended in a mistrial this week. This occurred after a juror reportedly broke court rules by looking up details about the case online and sharing that information with other jurors, leading to a swift restart of the trial.
The lawsuit originates from a December 2020 incident at Brown’s home in Tarzana, California. Former housekeeper Maria Avila alleges that she was attacked by Brown’s dog, Hades, while she was taking out the trash.
Avila claims to have experienced significant physical injuries along with lasting psychological harm.
The trial commenced on Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court but quickly came to an end.
Judge Huey P. Cotton stated that the actions of one juror compromised the integrity of the panel. They ignored explicit guidelines not to research the case and relayed what they found to others.
“Unfortunately, due to one juror’s violation of my instructions against searching for information online and sharing it, I must declare a mistrial,” the judge remarked.
After dismissing the jury, attorneys were instructed to begin the selection of a new jury from those already waiting.
Brown’s lawyer requested a postponement as she needed to travel to Las Vegas for the birth of her child.
Another court appearance is scheduled for Brown on Thursday morning.
The dog linked to the incident was found roaming in Humboldt County and was euthanized in Northern California around 12 days after the incident.
Authorities had labeled the event a “high-profile” attack, noting that the victim received 80 stitches to their face and arm.
Despite the mistrial, the lawsuit is still moving forward. When asked for his thoughts on the situation, Brown, who was present in court, simply said to TMZ, “It’s going to happen.”
This incident isn’t the only legal trouble Brown has encountered.
In May 2025, he was arrested in Manchester, England, for allegedly striking music producer Abe Diaw with a tequila bottle during an incident at a London nightclub in 2023.
He faces charges of grievous bodily harm and was released on bail but later pleaded not guilty in June 2025. A criminal trial is set for October 2026.
Diaw also initiated a $16 million civil lawsuit against Brown, which was resolved and dismissed in June 2025.
In a separate matter, Brown has requested the court to prevent any references to past domestic violence claims made by his ex-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009.
