Chris Brown is pushing back against the outcome of a lawsuit stemming from a 2020 dog attack involving one of his former employees. In June, a jury found the singer liable and awarded the plaintiff $13 million in damages, which Brown claims is “excessive.”
The singer’s attorneys are seeking another trial, arguing that an exchange during the proceedings, in which Brown’s 2009 assault on Rihanna was brought up, may have prejudiced the jury.
On June 30, a California judge ordered Chris Brown to pay $12.9 million in damages to a former housekeeper who was attacked by a dog at his home in December 2020, as The Blast reported.
During the pre-trial, Brown’s camp admitted partial responsibility, but noted they didn’t agree with the $90 million the housekeeper was seeking. Despite the verdict falling well short of the amount the plaintiff wanted, Brown is still pushing for a retrial.
On August 10, the singer’s attorneys filed a motion to toss the verdict, citing that $13 million was an “excessive” amount, per Billboard. They also noted pieces of evidence were left out of the proceedings, and an “inherently inflammatory” question was asked, which they claim should not have been mentioned in the first place.
Attorneys Claim The Singer’s Past Assault On Rihanna Had Nothing To Do With The Case
In 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault for the attack on his then-girlfriend Rihanna. Before the dog attack trial started, the singer’s legal team requested the judge to ban any mention of the conviction.
During a cross-examination, however, Brown was asked whether he had prior convictions, prompting him to answer “Yes, ma’am.” No other details were provided, however.
The new filing reads, “Mr. Brown’s conduct in an unrelated domestic-violence matter 17 years prior had no bearing on Plaintiffs’ alleged injuries, causation or damages.” The attorneys further stated that the singer’s past convictions do not correlate with his “honesty or veracity.”
Chris Brown’s Team Argues Evidence Left Out Affected Verdict
Apart from the mention of prior convictions, Brown’s legal team noted that important evidence was excluded in the proceedings, which could have affected the outcome of the verdict. It’s important to note that the dog attack trial was not about whether Brown was liable, but rather the extent of his liability.
Brown’s camp claims the singer’s head of security gave money to the housekeeper’s family after the attack, information that was left out of the trial. That, the attorneys say, increased the value awarded to the plaintiff. Moreover, they argue $13 million “cannot reasonably be reconciled with the evidence of the injuries and damages actually established at trial.”
During the trial, the housekeeper denied claims she received money to cover her medical bills.
The Singer Wants Trial With A New Jury
In addition to the $12.9 million damages for the housekeeper, Brown was also ordered to pay large sums to two other plaintiffs, the sister and husband of the housekeeper.
The sister was on-site when the accident happened and claimed she was traumatized by the event. The husband, meanwhile, said his wife’s injuries negatively affected their marriage. The sister was awarded $885,000 and the husband $50,000.
Brown’s attorneys are requesting a new trial as part of their filing, noting that they want a different set of people on the jury.
The Housekeeper’s Attorney Filed A Motion To Collect Damages
The housekeeper has yet to receive money from Brown. In July, her attorney, Nancy Doumanian, claimed their attempts to contact Brown’s team went unanswered. She filed a motion to collect what her client is owed, citing that Brown is currently on a massive tour that can cover the fees.
Doumanian has also responded to Brown’s recent filing, and she thinks the judge will not agree to Brown’s request for a new trial. “You can’t hit the reset button every time a jury holds you accountable. The evidence was overwhelming, the jury got it right, and we’re confident this motion will meet the same fate as the defense did at trial,” she said.
Brown kicked off the R&B Tour with Usher in June, and the tour is scheduled to conclude in December. So far, reports indicate the tour has surpassed $100 million in gross revenue and is projected to bring in $400 million by the time it concludes.