Chris Brown Seeks Court Order to Block Rihanna Case Mention in Dog Bite Trial

Chris Brown has asked a Los Angeles judge to stop any reference to his 2009 felony assault case involving Rihanna from being mentioned in his upcoming dog bite trial. He says the past case should not influence the current proceedings. However, the request has drawn strong opposition from the housekeeper who is suing him.

Maria Avila, the plaintiff, filed her lawsuit in 2021. She claims a security dog attacked her at Brown’s Tarzana home in December 2020. According to her account, she suffered severe injuries to her face and arm. She says the attack forced her to undergo emergency surgery. She also reports lasting nerve damage, disfigurement, and partial vision loss.

Avila gives a detailed account of the incident. She states that she was taking out trash when a large dog suddenly attacked her without warning. She says she screamed for help while the dog bit her repeatedly. In addition, she claims Chris Brown came outside during the incident. She alleges he stood over her briefly while using his phone before leaving the scene.

Brown disputes this version of events. In his account, he says he heard his dog growling and then found Avila injured in the driveway. He insists he did not harm her. He also says he checked on her condition and secured the dog. After that, he states that he left the area once emergency responders arrived.

Meanwhile, Avila’s legal team challenges Brown’s attempt to block references to his past. They argue that the request is too broad. They also say it is premature since the trial has not yet begun. Furthermore, they insist that the court should decide what evidence matters based on how the trial unfolds.

The trial is scheduled for June 15 after several delays. As the date approaches, both sides continue to prepare strong arguments. Avila’s lawyers say Brown wants to prevent evidence that could become important during cross examination or credibility checks.

They also point to Brown’s 2009 felony assault case involving Rihanna. At that time, police arrested him after an incident in a car before the Grammy Awards. He later pleaded guilty to felony assault. The court placed him on probation and ordered community service and a domestic violence program instead of jail time.

Brown’s legal team argues that the earlier case has no connection to the current lawsuit. They say it could unfairly influence a jury if mentioned in court. In their view, the dog bite allegations should stand alone without reference to past events.

However, Avila’s lawyers respond that context matters. They argue that if Brown or his witnesses present themselves as non-violent, then the earlier case could become relevant. They also say the court should not make a blanket decision before testimony begins.

In addition, Avila’s filing stresses that evidence rules should guide what the jury hears. Her legal team insists that relevance should determine admissibility during the trial, not assumptions made in advance.

Court documents also include Brown’s statement about the incident. He says he acted quickly after discovering Avila was injured. He adds that he cooperated with emergency responders. Still, Avila disputes parts of his account. She says she never saw the dog being removed. She also claims she only heard a vehicle leave after the attack.