Chris Brown is asking a Los Angeles judge to excuse him from appearing in person for a financial examination connected to a roughly $13 million judgment awarded to his former housekeeper, arguing that he lives in Nevada and is spending much of his time traveling for his international tour.

The singer’s attorneys are challenging an order requiring Brown to appear for a debtor examination, a proceeding that would allow attorneys for his former housekeeper, Maria Avila, to question him under oath about his finances and seek information concerning his assets, income and bank records.

Brown’s legal team says the court cannot compel him to personally attend the examination because his residence is outside California and more than 150 miles from the Los Angeles courthouse. His attorneys have also pointed to an extensive touring schedule that has him traveling internationally.

Brown Says He Lives in Nevada

The Nevada residency claim is central to Brown’s effort to avoid the in-person proceeding.

Under federal rules governing judgment-debtor examinations, geographic limitations can restrict how far a person may be required to travel to comply with a subpoena or court-ordered appearance. Brown's attorneys contend that because he resides in Nevada, requiring him to appear in Los Angeles would exceed the applicable 150-mile limit.

His attorneys are also pushing back against Avila's effort to obtain additional financial information, arguing that some of the requests are overly broad and burdensome.

Avila's legal team, meanwhile, is attempting to collect on the multimillion-dollar judgment and wants an opportunity to examine Brown regarding his finances.

A debtor examination can be an important enforcement tool after a civil judgment. It can allow a creditor to question the person who owes the judgment about bank accounts, property, business interests, income and other assets that could potentially be used to satisfy the amount owed.

Judgment Stems From 2020 Dog Attack

The financial dispute traces back to a December 2020 incident at Brown's Los Angeles-area home involving his Caucasian Shepherd, Hades.

Avila, who worked as a housekeeper at the property, alleged that the dog attacked her while she was working, leaving her with severe injuries. She subsequently sued Brown, accusing him of negligence and arguing that he should be held responsible for the attack.

A Los Angeles jury ultimately found Brown liable and awarded Avila millions of dollars in damages. With additional costs and interest involved in the case, the amount Brown faces is approximately $13 million.

The civil judgment does not mean Brown was criminally convicted in connection with the incident. The case is a civil dispute over liability and damages.

Former Housekeeper Wants Access to Financial Records

With the judgment entered, Avila's attorneys have turned their attention toward collecting the money.

Their efforts include seeking information about Brown's assets and financial accounts and attempting to question him directly about his finances through the debtor-examination process.

Brown's attorneys are resisting that effort in its current form, arguing that the court's order requiring his personal appearance should be withdrawn or modified.

His touring schedule adds another complication. Brown has continued performing internationally, and his legal team says the demands of the tour make an in-person Los Angeles appearance particularly difficult.

The disagreement now leaves the court to determine whether Brown can be required to personally appear in California for questioning or whether the examination will need to be handled differently.

For Avila, the dispute represents the next phase of a case she has already won before a jury. For Brown, the focus has shifted from the underlying dog-attack lawsuit to how—and where—his former housekeeper can pursue information about his finances as she seeks to collect the multimillion-dollar judgment.