Mike Shouhed has filed court documents in hopes of a judge dismissing a March 2024 lawsuit filed by his former fiancée, Paulina Ben-Cohen, in which she accused him of assault and battery.
After Paulina alleged that the 46-year-old Shahs of Sunset alum, who she began dating in 2019, “viciously, brutally and repeatedly assaulted and battered” her on March 27, 2022, Mike responded to her claims and requested that she be ordered to pay his legal fees.
According to court documents obtained by In Touch Weekly on January 9, Mike denied all allegations Paulina made against him, via his attorney.
“The Complaint also seeks relief against [Mike] that is not properly recoverable by [Paulina], and [Paulina] is therefore barred from any recovery against [Mike],” his lawyer explained. “[Paulina] through [her] own conduct, acts and omissions, is estopped from asserting recovering under any of [her] causes of actions alleged against [Mike].”
“[Mike] alleges that the damages alleged in the complaint, and each claim for relief therein alleged, if any were caused wholly or in part by the acts or omissions of herself, persons, firms, corporations, and/or entities other than [Mike],” the lawyer continued.
In Paulina’s lawsuit against Mike, she recalled the March 2022 incident between them, noting that the two of them had gotten into an argument after she put her two kids to bed, during which Mike berated her as a “horrible mother,” a “piece of sh*t,” and a “f*cking whore.”
After another argument in text messages, Paulina shared her thoughts on her relationship with Mike and requested he leave. And when he told her he wouldn’t do so unless she paid him for half of the house, Paulina began packing his bags.
In the attached footage taken from a security camera, Mike seemingly ran into the room, grabbed Paulina by the hair and shoulder, and “violently threw her to the ground.”
“As [Paulina] was lying on the floor, underneath the clothing rack that had come down on top of her body after [Mike] violently threw her to the ground, [Mike] bent over her, struck her in the face, and then put his hand over her face and tried to suffocate her as she writhed on the ground and struggled to breathe,” her suit read.
Then, after she attempted to call 911 after he exited the room, he returned and “violently confronted” her. He then allegedly threatened to kill her, suggested he knew a hitman who would do away with her, and tried to suffocate her.
“Nearly four minutes after [Mike] initiated his series of vicious and brutal attacks on [Paulina], this harrowing incident finally came to an end. [Paulina] had screamed for the nanny who was staying in a room on the other side of the house while [Mike] was assaulting and battering her in the playroom, in hopes the nanny would hear her and come to her aid. When the nanny did come, the nanny asked [Mike] to leave and return when he was calm. This only angered [Mike] further, and he stated something to the effect of he was never leaving the house and it was his house. After [Mike] went upstairs to retrieve one of his firearms, the police were called, came to the residence, and arrested [Mike],” the lawsuit continued.
Following his arrest, Mike was dealt with 13 criminal charges related to the incident, but he was able to avoid jail time after pleading not guilty and agreeing to attend anger management, a parenting class, and community service.
Shahs of Sunset aired for nine seasons from March 2012 to August 2021.