Chris Brown’s dog attack case has been thrown into uncertainty after a mistrial was declared on Tuesday due to juror misconduct.
The R&B singer, known for hits like Loyal, was expected to take the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom when the judge abruptly ended proceedings.
"Unfortunately, one of the jurors has violated my admonitions against searching the internet for information, and not only that, but he also shared it, and as a consequence, I have to declare a mistrial," Judge Huey P. Cotton said, according to Rolling Stone.
After the jury was dismissed, the court instructed Brown and both legal teams to remain present while preparations began to restart the jury selection process from an already assembled pool of candidates.
Brown’s legal team requested a postponement, noting that the 37 year old needed to travel to Las Vegas that evening to be with his newborn son, who he welcomed with partner Jada Wallace in April.
Judge Cotton ordered Brown to return on Thursday morning, where he is now expected to be the first witness to testify once proceedings resume.
The case stems from a 2021 lawsuit filed by Patricia Avila, sister of Brown’s former housekeeper Maria Avila, following a December 2020 incident involving a large Caucasian Shepherd Dog at the singer’s Los Angeles home. The dog allegedly attacked Maria Avila when she went outside to take out the trash, causing severe injuries including facial and arm damage, as well as harm to her hand and foot.
Avila reportedly required emergency surgery and now lives with permanent disfigurement, nerve damage and vision loss. She, along with her husband and sister Patricia, is seeking $90 million in damages.
According to Rolling Stone, Brown had previously disputed the claims but acknowledged during jury selection that Maria Avila did suffer harm in the incident. The remaining trial will focus on how much compensation should be awarded and whether additional family members are entitled to damages.
