Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers’divorce just added another zero to the legal bill. A Los Angeles judge ordered Phypers to pay Richards $25,762 in sanctions on Wednesday after he failed to properly respond to written discovery questions from her legal team. The total includes a $10,987 penalty plus $14,775 he must pay within 10 days under a protective order stipulation.
Two motions to compel discovery were continued to December 2, with the judge directing both parties to meet and confer before returning to court. Phypers filed for divorce in July 2025 after nearly seven years of marriage, and the case has been accompanied by reports of eviction and car repossession claims on his side, adding financial pressure to an already heated split.
For Richards, a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum who has navigated a very public divorce before, this ruling is a legal win in a case that shows no signs of slowing down. December 2 is the next date on the calendar, and the discovery fight is clearly not finished. What do you think: should missing court paperwork cost this much?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.