A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has declared a mistrial in the $90 million civil lawsuit filed against American musician Chris Brown by his former housekeeper.
The trial, which began on Monday, June 15, 2026, was abruptly halted shortly after jury selection. According to court records, the presiding judge dissolved the jury panel after it was discovered that a juror had improperly researched the case online before the trial and shared the information with other jurors.
The lawsuit was instituted by the singer’s former housekeeper, Maria Avila, who alleged that she suffered severe physical and emotional injuries in 2020 after being attacked by one of Brown’s dogs while working at his Los Angeles residence.
Brown has consistently denied any wrongdoing, with his legal team arguing that the plaintiff was responsible for her own injuries. Before the trial’s cancellation, defence lawyers had successfully petitioned the court to bar any references to the singer’s past legal history from being introduced during the proceedings. Following the mistrial declaration, court officials are expected to schedule a new date to select a fresh jury panel.
