Laura Prepon’s estranged husband, Ben Foster, asked the court to allow his father to testify in his defense after denying claims he has issues with alcohol, In Touch can exclusively report.
According to court documents obtained by In Touch, Ben told the court that his father, Steven Foster, would testify in court.
Ben said his dad had “relevant and material knowledge regarding the parties and the minor children.”
As In Touch first reported, Ben and Laura have been going back and forth in court ever since he filed for divorce on September 9.
Recently, Ben asked the court to set a temporary custody schedule and a schedule for the holidays for their two children.
Ben claimed that he attempted to work out the matter with Laura personally, but his efforts were “unsuccessful.”
Laura fired back claiming she had concerns. She said she believed her ex had a history of alcohol abuse. She asked he be ordered not to drink 12 hours before or during any custody time with the children.
The actress said she had three witnesses who were willing to testify in court about the claims. Laura had two of the witnesses file declarations ahead of the hearing.
One of the witnesses, Laura Vogel, said she worked for the actress for seven years and had witnessed both Laura and Ben with the children. She described the actress as being extremely involved with parenting while Ben would “pop in” at times.
She claimed that she saw Ben have shaky hands and add alcohol into his coffee on a trip.
Another employee named Emily Neikman said that Ben’s drinking concerned her.
Emily wrote, “A more serious concern that I have about Ben’s ability to care for these children relates to his consumption of alcohol around the children. It is my opinion that Ben has an issue with alcohol that needs to be addressed. I have frequently found whiskey in coffee cups that Ben leaves in the children’s rooms.”
Ben’s attorney, Rose Palermo, told In Touch, “Laura Prepon’s filing is the definition of falsehood and a disturbing fiction.”
The actor denied he had issues with drinking and said he has never had to seek treatment or faced any sort of legal issues for alcohol. Ben’s lawyer pointed out that Ben has his own concerns about Laura.
His lawyer wrote, “Of great concern to [Ben] is how much damage has already been done, and will continue to be done, to the parties’ young, impressionable children by and including Wife’s drinking (which she conveniently omitted from her response, among other truths), mental thought processes and her generational eating disorder, which she openly discusses in her autobiographical book.”
“[Ben] understands that [Laura] is angry at him for choosing to file, and that she is acting out of a place of hurt and rage. He is also aware that [Laura] has a history of self-admitted struggles that she eloquently and bravely touches on in her book,” Ben’s lawyer added.
The attorney continued, “[Ben] acknowledges that these disorders are addressable by long-term therapy, but in the meantime, he continues to be concerned for the children’s welfare and safety.”
Regarding Laura’s request that Ben not drink 12 hours before or during visits with the kid, his lawyer said, “Is [Laura] also to be restrained for a self-described ‘wine mommy’ who, on page 51 of her book, literally admits to saying words of gratitude for her wine.”
The hearing was scheduled for December 20. The court has yet to file documents stating the outcome of the hearing. Laura and Ben wed in 2018. They share a daughter named Ella and a second child whose name they have kept a secret.
