Juror Misconduct Triggers Mistrial in Brown Dog Case

A civil trial against singer Chris Brown was abruptly halted this week after a juror's misconduct forced a mistrial. The $90 million lawsuit, filed by former housekeeper Maria Avila over a 2020 dog attack, will now restart with a new jury.

Judge Huey P. Cotton declared the mistrial in Los Angeles County Superior Court after learning a juror had searched for information about the case online and shared it with other panel members, violating explicit instructions. The trial had begun with jury selection on Monday. With a pool of prospective jurors already available, the process to select a new panel began immediately. Brown's attorney requested a brief delay so the singer could travel to Las Vegas to see his newborn child. The judge ordered Brown to return to court on Thursday morning.

The lawsuit stems from an incident on December 12, 2020, at Brown's home in Tarzana, California. Avila alleges she was violently attacked by Brown's Caucasian shepherd dog, named Hades, while taking out the trash. She claims the attack caused severe injuries to her face, neck, and arms, requiring emergency surgery and resulting in permanent disfigurement, nerve damage, and emotional trauma. In her...