Chris Brown tries to stop references to Rihanna as the $90 million dog attack trial draws closer

Chris Brown is requesting that a Los Angeles judge leave one aspect of his background out of the courtroom due to an impending high-stakes trial.

In an upcoming civil trial related to a different litigation, the artist has filed a new legal motion asking the court to prevent any reference to his previous domestic abuse case involving Rihanna. The request is made as Brown gets ready to respond to allegations made by his sisters, Patricia and Maria Avila, who used to be housekeepers at his Los Angeles residence.

Maria Avila claims that in December 2020, Brown’s dog, Hades, attacked her, gravely injuring her. She is requesting more than $90 million in damages, claiming the incident left her permanently injured and deformed. Brown claims he was not careless and has refuted the accusations.

Brown’s legal team claims in court documents that bringing up his prior relationship with Rihanna would unduly prejudice the jury and divert attention from the real problem, which is the alleged dog attack. His lawyers emphasize that the current complaint has nothing to do with any discussion of past domestic abuse charges, characterizing them as irrelevant, out-of-date, and highly prejudiced.

Additionally, the documents argue that discussing Brown’s longer criminal past would simply confuse the jury and distort their verdict. In earlier evidence, Brown admitted to prior criminal convictions, including the Rihanna case from 2009, but he maintains that those issues shouldn’t be taken into account in this trial.

Regarding the allegation of a dog attack, Brown’s defense contends that Maria Avila provoked the animal and is accountable for her own wounds. The case is anticipated to go to trial later this year, setting the stage for a carefully watched judicial battle, as settlement negotiations have stagnated.