Hollywood actress Denise Richards and her soon-to-be-ex husband Aaron Phypers have been hit with a lawsuit from their landlord seeking $84,000 in back rent, just days after Richards secured a five-year restraining order against Phypers.
Landlord Takes Legal Action
According to court documents obtained by Daily Mail, landlord John Karan filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday. The legal action claims the former couple signed a lease in 2020 agreeing to pay $12,000 per month for a luxurious 6,985 square-foot property in Calabasas featuring six bedrooms and five bathrooms.
Karan is demanding immediate possession of the property in addition to the $84,000 in unpaid rent and damages for every day he remains unable to reclaim the keys. Representatives for both Richards and Phypers have not responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.
Restraining Order Granted Amid Abuse Allegations
The lawsuit comes fresh on the heels of a significant court victory for Richards, who was granted a five-year restraining order against Phypers during a hearing last Friday. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas ordered Phypers to stay away from the actress, cease threatening or harassing her, and surrender any firearms to police.
The judge also specifically prohibited Phypers from leaking or sharing nude photographs of the 54-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, describing the act as disturbing Richards's peace.
During the emotional two-and-a-half hour hearing, Richards's attorney Jeff Layfield detailed allegations of physical abuse, claiming Phypers had caused the actress at least three concussions and regularly threatened to "break her jaw." Layfield argued that Phypers had repeatedly violated the temporary restraining order and showed no signs of stopping the abusive behaviour.
Phypers Denies All Allegations
Phypers has vehemently denied all accusations of physical and emotional abuse. Through his attorney Michael Finley, he dismissed Richards's claims as "perjury" and questioned why she never contacted police or sought medical treatment if the alleged injuries occurred.
Finley also challenged the notion that Richards feared Phypers, pointing to her presence on platforms like OnlyFans and previous work with Playboy. He argued that Phypers had taken screenshots of intimate photographs as evidence of adultery to support his divorce filing.
Despite these arguments, Judge Juhas found Richards and her witnesses credible, stating he didn't believe they "sat down together and made the whole thing up."
Complex Living Situation Revealed
Court documents reveal Richards hasn't lived at the Calabasas property since late 2023, when she moved into her own townhome. However, she claims that Phypers, along with his parents and brothers, have continued residing at the rented home while she has maintained payment of the bills.
Richards has previously stated in court proceedings that she asked Phypers to vacate the property and accused him of causing extensive damage to the house - allegations her ex-husband denies.
The legal battles between the former couple have grown increasingly contentious since Phypers filed for divorce in July, citing "irreconcilable differences" with their separation date listed as July 4, 2025. The divorce took a dramatic turn in October when Phypers was arrested outside a Los Angeles courthouse during a restraining order hearing and charged with two felony counts of injuring a spouse.
As both the civil lawsuit from their landlord and criminal proceedings move forward, the former couple's acrimonious split continues to unfold in the public eye, with multiple legal fronts now active simultaneously.
