Chris Brown’s civil trial over a dog attack lawsuit has been thrown into chaos after a judge declared a mistrial due to juror misconduct.
The singer appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday to face allegations brought by former housekeeper Maria Avila, who claims she suffered severe injuries when she was attacked by one of Brown’s dogs in 2020.
However, the case came to an abrupt halt when Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Huey P. Cotton ruled that the trial could no longer continue after learning that a juror had violated court instructions.
According to reports, the juror conducted independent online research about the case and then shared that information with other members of the jury.
“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 Cotton told the court.
As a result, the proceedings were terminated and Brown was ordered to return to court on Thursday, where the trial will restart with a newly selected jury.
The R&B star appeared unfazed by the setback.
When approached by reporters outside the courthouse, Brown responded simply, “It happens,” when asked about the mistrial.
He also reacted to the amount being sought in the lawsuit after learning that Avila is pursuing $90 million in damages.
“That’s crazy,” Brown said.
The lawsuit stems from an incident at Brown’s California property in 2020.
Avila filed legal action against the singer in April 2021, alleging she was viciously attacked while taking out the trash at his home.
According to court filings, she claims Brown’s Caucasian Shepherd mauled her, leaving her with serious and lasting injuries that continue to affect her life.
The dog involved in the attack was euthanised by authorities 12 days after the incident.
Avila’s lawsuit seeks substantial compensation for the physical and emotional trauma she says she suffered.
The mistrial means both sides will now have to begin the legal process again before a new jury as the high-profile case continues in Los Angeles.
Brown has denied wrongdoing in the case and is expected to continue fighting the claims in court.
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