R&B singer Chris Brown is one step closer to having at least one of the two civil cases related to an attack on his property being dismissed.
A Los Angeles judge has granted the artist’s plea to conduct an eight-hour mental examination for one of the women who is suing him. The examination will be conducted by experts of his choice, aiming to validate or discredit the mental distress she claims to have endured after witnessing her sister being attacked by his dog, Hades, according to RadarOnline.
The Attack
Maria Avila and her sister Patricia Avila were employed as housekeepers at Brown’s Tarzana, CA home.
On Dec. 12, 2020, while taking out the trash, Maria Avila was attacked by the Caucasian Ovchake/Caucasian shepherd, resulting in her being savagely mauled in such a way that chunks of her face and arm were ripped off.
She filed a lawsuit in July 2021 as Jane Doe, claiming he attempted to cover up an incident and is requesting the courts award her $71 million in damages. Maria Avila alleges the celebrity prioritized covering up the attack over her well-being and is suing for damages.
Brown contends Maria Avila “teased, abused and mistreated” the animal.
“[Doe] invited the injuries now complained of and assumed the risk of them with full knowledge of the magnitude of that risk, in that she knew her foregoing conduct might cause the dog to attack her, and seriously injure her, both of which events are alleged to have occurred,” his response to her claim states.
Patricia Avila says she witnessed the incident and is so traumatized by seeing the ordeal that she is suing in a separate lawsuit for an undisclosed payout for her emotional distress.
Brown says the sister is not telling the truth and that she was not close when “her sister was allegedly injured.”
Brown asked the courts to make Patricia Avila sit for the exam to prove she was actually impacted by the incident in the way she has suggested to the courts.
“[Avila] stated that she still suffers from emotional distress symptoms and that she still requires ongoing treatment to address those problems,” Brown’s motion read.
The examination has been on the table for some time. Brown’s legal team claims that Avila has not made herself available to meet with his expert.
Another Victory For The Defense
This is the second battle won by Brown in this case.
The trial was initially set for Sept. 26, 2023, but the defense asked the Los Angeles Superior Court judge over the case to push the trial back to December.
Brown’s lawyers argued that waiting the additional months would not hurt the case, nor cause harm to the ex-housekeeper. They also noted that since the woman’s alleged injuries are still being treated under workers’ compensation, there is no accurate way to assess the damages for her claims.
The Potential Damage
The lawsuits threaten Brown’s financial oulook. Since his debut as an artist in 2005, the singer has put out 10 studio albums, selling millions of records and making substantial money touring. He also racks in big bucks with merchandising and hosting special meet and greets where fans are charged thousands of dollars to spend time with him.
With an approximate net worth of $50 million, if Maria Avila and her sister win their cases, it could mean financial ruin for the controversial 34-year-old.
