Chris Brown is seeking a new trial after a former housekeeper won a $12.9 million verdict over injuries from a dog attack at his Los Angeles-area home. His lawyers argue that the jury was unfairly influenced by being told he was a convicted felon, referring to his 2009 guilty plea for assaulting Rihanna, and say the evidence was irrelevant and inflammatory.

Brown accepted some responsibility but maintained that Maria Avila was partly at fault because he had warned her not to go outside alone near the 200-pound dog. His legal team also disputes the damages award and the exclusion of evidence about payments allegedly made to Avila’s family by Brown’s security chief; Avila’s lawyer expects the motion to fail and is pursuing collection from Brown’s tour profits.