In a dramatic legal escalation, Denise Richards has enlisted her ex-husband Charlie Sheen’s powerhouse divorce attorney to counter estranged husband Aaron Phypers’ demand for spousal support, setting the stage for a fierce courtroom battle over finances, domestic abuse allegations, and a missing laptop.
The ongoing divorce between Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers has entered a new, more aggressive phase with a significant legal maneuver. On December 10, Richards formally replaced her previous counsel with a new legal team led by attorney Mark Gross, a name deeply familiar with her past.
Gross is not just any lawyer; he is the longtime divorce attorney for Richards’ ex-husband, Charlie Sheen. While Gross did not represent Sheen during his divorce from Richards, he was the lead counsel in Sheen’s protracted and often tumultuous divorce from Brooke Mueller, which was finalized in 2011. Gross has been Sheen’s trusted legal confidant through numerous post-divorce financial and custodial disputes with Mueller.
A Calculated Legal Strategy Unfolds
The hiring of Gross signals a highly strategic and potentially confrontational approach by Richards. Gross, alongside co-counsels Ronald Brot and Yumiko Gibson, immediately went on the offensive.
His first action was to file a motion to delay a hearing on Phypers’ request for monthly spousal support. Gross argued that the financial information Phypers submitted was improperly filled out and insufficient. A key point of contention was Phypers’ ownership of Quantum Epigenetics Consulting, a wellness center. Gross noted that Phypers “failed to state the number of years in that business, and failed to state his income from that business,” making a fair assessment of his support request impossible.
The Battle Over Jurisdiction and Allegations
Richards’ legal team also filed a request to have the spousal support matter transferred to the judge who presided over their domestic violence case, Judge Juhas. This is a critical tactical move.
Judge Juhas is the same judge who granted Richards a permanent restraining order against Phypers on November 7 following a trial. Richards’ filing states, “The nature and severity of the [domestic violence] will bear on whether the Court will issue [support], and there is no one who is in a better position to make that determination than Judge Juhas.”
This directly ties the request for financial support to the serious abuse allegations at the heart of the case. Richards intends to present evidence of Phypers’ alleged abuse at any support hearing, potentially arguing that a spouse found to have committed abuse may be barred from receiving support under California law.
The Missing Laptop and Legal Deadlines
Adding another layer of complexity, Richards’ filing accuses Phypers of violating the restraining order by failing to return her laptop and other sensitive materials by a court-ordered deadline of November 10. The filing notes that Phypers now claims “that the laptop he took is not the laptop subject to the order.”
Richards’ lawyers argue that if Phypers is challenging the validity of Judge Juhas’s order, then Judge Juhas himself is best positioned to rule on that challenge. The judge granted Richards’ request, postponing the support hearing until January 7, 2026.
Phypers’ Financial Claims and Richards’ Income
The fight over spousal support hinges on two conflicting financial pictures. Phypers filed for divorce on July 7, citing irreconcilable differences. In his petition, he demanded monthly support from Richards, claiming she earns over $250,000 per month from her various ventures.
These income streams reportedly include:
- Her subscription-based content on OnlyFans
- Her role on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
- Other television appearances and acting gigs
In stark contrast, Phypers has claimed in recent court documents that he has earned no income whatsoever in the past 12 months, despite listing ownership of Quantum Epigenetics Consulting.
A History of Allegations and Arrest
The divorce proceedings have been overshadowed by serious allegations from the start. Just days after Phypers filed for divorce, Richards sought a restraining order, accusing him of abuse during their marriage, including causing her multiple black eyes.
Phypers has consistently and adamantly denied these accusations, maintaining that Richards’ injuries were from accidental falls and that he never threatened or assaulted her. “These accusations are completely false and deeply hurtful,” Phypers previously stated.
The situation reached a peak on October 17 when Phypers was arrested at the courthouse immediately after testifying in the restraining order hearing, where he denied hurting Richards. He was charged with two felony counts of injuring a spouse and two felony counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat.
The legal battle between Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers is a multifaceted conflict involving high-stakes finances, serious criminal allegations, and now, the strategic deployment of a legal heavyweight from Richards’ past. The hiring of Mark Gross ensures that this case will be fought with intense scrutiny on every financial detail and legal precedent.
For the fastest, most authoritative analysis on breaking entertainment news, keep your browser pointed to onlytrustedinfo.com.
