AceShowbiz - Chris Brown could be entitled to a new trial in a dog attack lawsuit if his former housekeeper declines a reduced financial settlement.

On September 29, Judge Huey P. Cotton overturned the previous decision that awarded Maria Avila $12.9 million. The judge deemed the original award excessive based on the evidence from the trial held earlier this year. Judge Cotton offered Avila a choice: accept a lowered compensation amount of $9.5 million or proceed with a new trial.

However, the judge upheld a separate $855,000 jury award to Maria’s sister, Patricia Avila, recognizing damages for past economic loss and emotional distress, since she witnessed the attack.

The lawsuit dates back to April 2021 when Maria Avila sued Chris Brown for negligence. She claimed that in 2020, she was mauled by Brown’s 200-pound Caucasian Shepherd dog while taking out the trash at his California residence. The attack caused her permanent scarring and serious physical injuries.

Maria Avila initially sought $90 million in damages. During the trial, Chris Brown testified that he had warned both Maria and Patricia that the dogs were unfriendly and advised them not to go outside alone without a member of his security team.

The legal battle faced complications when the first trial ended in a mistrial. This occurred after a juror conducted unauthorized internet research related to the case and shared the findings with fellow jurors. The case was retried shortly after, with a verdict delivered two weeks later.

This recent ruling gives Avila the option to either accept the reduced offer or push forward with another court battle, potentially extending the high-profile case. Meanwhile, the $855,000 awarded to Patricia Avila remains intact as compensation for her role as an eyewitness to the incident.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Xxlmag.