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Mike Shouhed is being sued by his former fiancee, Paulina Ben-Cohen.
Just under two years after the Shahs of Sunset alum, 45, was arrested amid claims of a domestic violence incident at Paulina’s Los Angeles home, Paulina has filed a lawsuit against him, accusing him of assault and battery, gender violence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, claiming he “viciously, brutally, and repeatedly assaulted and battered” her in a bedroom and kids’ playroom.
In court documents filed Friday and obtained by PEOPLE on March 25, Paulina details the March 27, 2022, incident at her home as she seeks unspecified and punitive damages.
Looking back on Mike’s alleged attack, Paulina said that after putting her kids to bed and beginning to enjoy a tobacco-free hookah, which is a common practice in her culture, Mike started an argument, slamming her as a “horrible mother,” a “f*cking wh*re,” and a “piece of sh*t.”
In response, Paulina shared her thoughts on the relationship and suggested Mike leave. Then, after he refused, she began to pack his belongings and told him to “not make this more difficult than it already was,” which prompted a reportedly violent outburst from the former reality star.
Mike “forcefully grabbed [Paulina’s] hair and shoulder and violently threw her to the ground,” her documents, which include screenshots of security footage, state.
Mike is also accused of bending over Paulina as she laid on the ground and “[striking] her in the face, and then [putting] his hand over her face and [trying] to suffocate her as she writhed on the ground and struggled to breathe,” and threatening to kill her, telling her he “had a hitman who would put her away.”
Eventually, Paulina tried to call 911.
“Nearly four minutes after [Mike] initiated his series of vicious and brutal attacks on plaintiff, this harrowing incident finally came to an end,” her complaint shared. “After [Mike] went upstairs to retrieve one of his firearms, the police were called, came to the residence and arrested [Mike].”
Following the incident, which resulted in 14 charges being brought against him, including domestic violence charges and weapons charges, Mike’s attorney, Alex Kessel, denied Paulina’s claims.
“My own investigation reveals no acts of domestic violence was committed by my client,” he said in a statement to PEOPLE. “I have no doubt Mike will be exonerated. Please honor the presumption of innocence.”
Paulina also spoke to PEOPLE at the time, through attorney Joshua Ritter, stating that she was “the victim in the case.”
“Paulina’s primary focus is on keeping herself and her children safe,” Ritter said in a statement on his client’s behalf at the time. “She supports the work that the police and the City Attorney’s Office have done, and she continues to cooperate with them while looking forward to putting this sad situation behind her and moving on with her life.”
In October 2022, Mike struck a deal with prosecutors that would dismiss the charges against him.
Shahs of Sunset premiered on Bravo in March 2012 and continued through August 2021.
