Chris Brown Accused of Dodging Deposition in $90 Million Lawsuit Over Alleged Dog Attack
AARON J. THORNTON/WIREIMAGE
Chris Brown’s former housekeeper, Maria Avila, has accused the singer of failing to appear for a deposition related to the $90 million lawsuit she filed against him. The lawsuit stems from an alleged dog attack at Brown’s Los Angeles home, according to court documents obtained by In Touch Weekly.
Maria Avila filed the complaint against Brown, 35, claiming she was brutally attacked by his dog, a large Caucasian Ovcharka/Caucasian Shepherd named Hades, while working at his home on December 12, 2020. The documents reveal that Maria’s attorney has been trying for over a year to schedule a deposition with Brown and a representative of his company, Black Pyramid LLC, but has been repeatedly ignored by Brown’s defense team.
Maria alleges that the defense has refused to request the presence of key witnesses for the deposition. Her legal team made multiple attempts in February and March 2023 to confirm deposition dates with Brown’s attorney, but they received no response.
In her lawsuit, Maria claims she was attacked by Hades while taking out the trash, suffering severe injuries as the dog reportedly tore large portions of her skin. Along with the $90 million in damages, Maria provided photographs of her injuries to support her claims. Her sister, Patricia Avila, who witnessed the attack, has also filed a separate lawsuit for emotional distress, as per RadarOnline.
Brown has denied any wrongdoing, shifting the blame to Maria. His attorney argued that Maria “invited the injuries” and “assumed the risk” by allegedly provoking the dog. The defense claimed that Maria’s actions caused the dog to attack her, asserting that she teased or mistreated the animal, leading to the incident.
In a new motion, Maria’s legal team contends that Chris Brown’s attorney referenced a deposition taken in 2023 for Patricia’s lawsuit, but Maria’s attorneys were not present at that deposition. Maria insists she deserves the opportunity to question Brown directly. Additionally, her motion states that the defense has failed to produce other key witnesses.
Maria’s complaint also alleges that Brown was negligent in controlling the dog, especially given Hades’ history of aggressive behavior. She further claims that Brown had not properly registered the dog with the City of Los Angeles, nor did the dog have valid licensing at the time of the attack. The case remains ongoing, and a judge has yet to rule on Maria’s most recent motion.
