A ‘staggering’ number of Canadians are glued to Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s trial.

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Amber Heard’s legal team campaigning to have verdict of defamation trial thrown out
Author of the article:Bang Showbiz
Bang Showbiz
Publishing date:Jul 03, 2022 • 8 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation

Amber Heard’s legal team is campaigning to have the verdict of her defamation trial against Johnny Depp thrown out.


Lawyers for the ‘Aquaman’ actress, 36, filed a motion on Friday on the grounds the verdict that she had defamed ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actor Depp, 59, was unsupported by evidence.

Her team also alleged a juror had not been properly vetted and questioned whether they were supposed to have been allowed on the jury.

Their 43-page memorandum also argues the $10 million in damages Heard owes Depp should also be overturned.

It says the trial “proceeded solely on a defamation by implication theory, abandoning any claims that Ms. Heard’s statements were actually false.”

Depp’s lead attorney Benjamin Chew responded to the motion by telling Courthouse News: “What we expected, just longer, no more substantive.”

The motion says about the jury member in question – identified as Juror 15 – was “clearly born later” than the 1945 birth year listed on court records.


It adds: “This discrepancy raises the question whether Juror 15 actually received a summons for jury duty and was properly vetted by the court to serve on the jury. It appears his identity could not have been verified.”

Judge Penney Azcarate has said she does not want the Depp v Heard case to case to go on as it stands and has dismissed requests from the actress’ team for more hearings.

While both actors were found to have defamed each other in the June verdict, Depp was awarded $10.35 million in damages from Heard, while she got only $2 million in damages from her ex-husband – leaving her owing Depp $8.35 million, which she says she cannot afford.

In the end, Heard was her own worst enemy for lying and not being 'convincing' enough.

Also from what I've seen from analysts, she was just horrible in general.

Johnny Depp accepted her 'challenge' to take the issue to court, and won. Play stupid games and all...
 
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Amber Heard's lawyers claim Johnny Depp 'not entitled' to $10 million damages
Author of the article:Bang Showbiz
Bang Showbiz
Publishing date:Jul 07, 2022 • 19 hours ago • 1 minute read • 14 Comments

Amber Heard’s lawyers have claimed Johnny Depp is “not entitled” to the $10 million damages he was awarded in his defamation case over her 2018 op-ed piece in the Washington Post.


Attorneys representing the ‘Aquaman’ actress filed a motion contesting the verdict in Depp’s favour and the damages which were awarded to him – claiming his career was “ruined” before the publication of Heard’s piece in December 2018 in which she described herself as a victim of domestic violence but didn’t name her famous ex.

In the motion filed by her lawyers – and obtained by Radaronline.com – it is claimed “there is no evidence of damage to Mr. Depp’s reputation caused by Mrs. Heard’s Op-Ed.”

The documents went on to claim the damage to Depp’s reputation came when Heard filed for a domestic violence temporary restraining order against him in May 2016 in the aftermath of their split.

The motion added: “Mr. Depp testified that the damage to his reputation was when Ms. Heard obtained the DVTRO (domestic violence temporary restraining order) on May 27, 2016 – for which he cannot be compensated.”

Heard’s lawyers stated: “Mr. Depp was asking the jury to compensate him for actions that occurred on May 27, 2016,” adding he has “has no right” to the damages he was awarded by the jury.

The website reports they concluded: “This is improper and calls for this Court to set aside the verdict.”

After a six-week trial earlier this year, the 59-year-old actor was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, which the judge lowered to $350,000 because of a cap in the state of Virginia, while Amber was awarded $2 million compensatory damages for her counter suit.
 

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Amber Heard wants Johnny Depp victory tossed over Juror No. 15
'A mistrial should be declared, and a new trial ordered'

Author of the article:Mark Daniell
Publishing date:Jul 08, 2022 • 12 hours ago • 4 minute read • Join the conversation

Johnny Depp’s courtroom victory over ex-wife Amber Heard might be short lived.


Last week, Heard’s lawyers asked a judge to toss the $10.35 million verdict against her in the defamation case filed by Depp, arguing that one of the jurors — known as Juror No. 15 — may not have been properly screened by the court.

On Friday, Deadline obtained documents relating to the person in question.

“Ms. Heard had a right to rely on the basic protection, as prescribed by the Virginia Code, that the jurors in this trial would be individuals who were actually summoned for jury duty,” read a motion filed by the actress’ legal team.

“In this case, it appears that Juror No. 15 was not, in fact, the same individual as listed on the jury panel,” attorney Elaine Bredehoft adds. “Ms. Heard’s due process was therefore compromised. Under these circumstances, a mistrial should be declared, and a new trial ordered.”


According to the redacted filing, Deadline reports, the summons for jury duty was sent out to a Virginia resident in April. But there were two people living at the same address — a 77-year-old (who was the one summoned) and a 52-year-old (who showed up in court).

“Thus, the 52-year-old- (redacted) sitting on the jury for six weeks was never summoned for jury duty on April 11 and did not ‘appear in the list,’ as required,” the filing continues.

“As the Court no doubt agrees, it is deeply troubling for an individual not summoned for jury duty nonetheless to appear for jury duty and serve on a jury, especially in a case such as this.”

It is not clear if the juror intentionally misrepresented themselves as being born in 1945, and no explanation was given how the younger individual was selected to the jury without ever having to provide any official ID.


Depp sued Heard for $50 million, accusing her of defaming him with a 2018 op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post in which she described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” The three-time Oscar nominee claimed her article ruined his career and led to a series of cancelled film projects, including a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean feature.

Last month, a seven-person jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages (which is capped at $350,000) over the article.

After the verdict, one of the jury members who ruled in Depp’s favour told Good Morning America in an interview that they didn’t think her testimony was believable.

“The crying, the facial expressions that she had, the staring at the jury — all of us were very uncomfortable…,” the juror said.


ABC didn’t reveal his identity, but he said that the majority of the jury felt “a lot of Amber’s story didn’t add up” and that “the majority of the jury felt she was the aggressor.”

During her testimony, Heard burst into tears repeatedly as she painted a picture of an allegedly controlling and abusive Depp, who, as he was known to the world as one of Hollywood’s biggest film stars, was a Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde-like “monster” behind closed doors.

The juror said Heard’s emotional, tear-filled testimony was not realistic.


“She would answer one question and she would be crying and then two seconds later she would turn ice cold,” they said. “Some of us used the expression ‘crocodile tears.'”

On Depp’s side, the juror said he came across as the more trustworthy of the two.


“A lot of the jury felt what he was saying, at the end of the day, was more believable…,” said the juror. “He just seemed a little more real in terms of how he was responding to questions. His emotional state was very stable throughout…”

The juror added that the revelation that Heard did not donate the full $7 million divorce settlement (as she had pledged to do) was “… a fiasco for her.”

He also disputed Heard’s claim that the jury was influenced by social media in reaching their decision.

In an interview with the TODAY show, Heard spoke about Depp’s overzealous fanbase, saying that she was hounded in person and online with hashtags like #amberturd and #justiceforjohnnydepp generating billions of views on TikTok.

“Even somebody who is sure I’m deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I’m lying, you still couldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there’s been a fair representation,” Heard said. “You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair,” she said.


“We followed the evidence …,” the juror fired back. “Myself and at least two other jurors don’t use Twitter or Facebook. Others who had it, made a point not to talk about it.”

In their filing last week to have the verdict set aside, Heard’s attorneys called the damages awarded to Depp “excessive” and “indefensible.” They also first raised the possibility that there was an improper juror on the panel noting that Juror No. 15 was much younger than the person who was summoned.

“This discrepancy raises the question whether Juror 15 actually received a summons for jury duty and was properly vetted by the Court to serve on the jury,” they wrote.

This new bombshell comes after Heard announced her plans to appeal the verdict. But judge Penney Azcarate said that if Heard appeals, she must post a bond for the full amount of the $10.35 million award while the challenge is pending — something she could potentially avoid if the ruling is set aside due to Juror No. 15’s vote.

Heard’s reps did not respond when the Sun reached out for comment.

mdaniell@postmedia.com
 

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Amber Heard facing more legal headaches after insurance company refuses to pay damages
'The jury’s factual findings establish that Heard’s liability is caused by the willful act(s) of Heard'

Author of the article:Mark Daniell
Publishing date:Jul 13, 2022 • 15 hours ago • 4 minute read • Join the conversation

There seems to be no end in sight to Amber Heard’s legal woes.


As the actress desperately tries to have her trial loss to ex-husband Johnny Depp overturned on a technicality, Heard appears to be at the precipice of a new battle with her former insurance company.

New York Marine and General Insurance Co. has filed a lawsuit claiming they aren’t on the hook to cover any legal fees or damages after Depp won a $15-million judgment against Heard.

“The jury’s factual findings establish that Heard’s liability is caused by the willful act(s) of Heard,” New York Marine and General Insurance Co.’s suit said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Depp, 59, sued Heard, 36, for $50 million, accusing her of defaming him with a 2018 op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post in which she described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” The three-time Oscar nominee denied her allegations of abuse and claimed the article ruined his career and led to a series of cancelled film projects, including a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean feature.


Heard hit back with her own $100 million counterclaim after the star’s former lawyer Adam Waldman called her allegations a hoax. Both accused one another of ruining their respective careers.

Depp won three claims against Heard, with a seven-person jury siding with the Edward Scissorhands star, finding there was “clear and convincing evidence” that Heard had defamed him. He was awarded $15 million (an amount that was reduced to $10.4 million). But Heard also had a small victory of her own when it found that she too was also defamed through statements Waldman made to the Daily Mail.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the New York Marine and General Insurance Co. covered Heard when the Washington Post op-ed was published in December 2018 and when Depp sued Heard in March 2019.


But her policy states that her provider is “not liable for a loss caused by the willful act of the inured.”

A separate insurance company, Travelers Commercial Insurance, is supporting Heard under a homeowners insurance policy taken out in 2018. But the Times reports that Travelers and New York Marine are locked in a separate legal battle, as the former is looking for the latter to pick up at least half of Heard’s defence costs. New York Marine has denied it should have to pay and has countersued.

During an appearance on NBC’s TODAY show last month, Heard’s lawyer Elaine Bredehoft said the actress, who has forked over at least $6 million in legal fees battling her ex, “absolutely” cannot pay Depp.

According to sources speaking to the New York Post, Heard has been left “broke” by her hefty legal fees and is struggling after “lavish spending, on travel, clothes, gifts and wine.” In June, she was spotted at a discount department store hunting for bargains.


Heard’s reps said they had no comment on the reports that she’s broke.

Last week, Heard’s lawyers asked a judge to toss the $10.35 million verdict against her, arguing that one of the jurors — known as Juror No. 15 — may not have been properly screened by the court.

According to the redacted filing, Deadline reports, the summons for jury duty was sent out to a Virginia resident in April. But there were two people living at the same address — a 77-year-old (who was the one summoned) and a 52-year-old (who showed up in court).

“Thus, the 52-year-old- (redacted) sitting on the jury for six weeks was never summoned for jury duty on April 11 and did not ‘appear in the list,’ as required,” the filing states.

“As the Court no doubt agrees, it is deeply troubling for an individual not summoned for jury duty nonetheless to appear for jury duty and serve on a jury, especially in a case such as this.”


It is not clear if the juror intentionally misrepresented themselves as being born in 1945, and no explanation was given how the younger individual was selected to the jury without ever having to provide any official ID.

But Depp’s lawyers fired back saying that Heard didn’t prove that her defence was thwarted by the error.

“Unsurprisingly, Ms. Heard cites to no case law to support her argument that the service of Juror 15 if he is not the same individual that the Court assigned as Juror 15 somehow compromised her due process and would warrant the drastic remedy of ‘setting aside the verdict and ordering a new trial,’” Depp’s lawyers wrote in a statement obtained by Variety. “Ms. Heard makes no showing of any prejudice, and accordingly her speculative arguments fail.”


A memo filed by Depp’s lawyers, and obtained by Deadline, added, “Though understandably displeased with the outcome of trial, Ms. Heard has identified no legitimate basis to set aside in any respect the jury’s decision. Virginia law is clear that a verdict is not to be set aside unless it is ‘plainly wrong or without evidence to support it’ … Mr. Depp respectfully submits that the Court should deny Ms. Heard’s Post-Trial Motions, which verge into the frivolous.”

Paul Bekman, a Baltimore lawyer who has also tried cases in Virginia, concurred with Depp’s lawyers telling the Associated Press that Heard’s team needed to raise any issues about the juror ahead of time.

“Anybody looking at a 52-year-old and a 77-year-old would be able to tell — hopefully — that there’s a difference of 25 years, and they would have the right to inquire about that,” he said. “I believe it is too late to complain about the juror.”

After the verdict, one of the jury members who ruled in Depp’s favour told Good Morning America in an interview that they didn’t think her testimony was believable.

“The crying, the facial expressions that she had, the staring at the jury — all of us were very uncomfortable…,” the juror said.

mdaniell@postmedia.com
 

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Amber Heard's bid to toss verdict due to jury fraud shot down by judge
Author of the article:Mark Daniell
Publishing date:Jul 13, 2022 • 11 hours ago • 4 minute read • Join the conversation

Amber Heard’s long-shot bid at a new trial was snuffed out by Judge Penney Azcarate on Wednesday.


Last week, Heard’s lawyers asked Azcarate to toss the $10.35 million verdict against her after she lost a defamation suit against her ex-husband Johnny Depp, arguing that one of the jurors — known as Juror No. 15 — may not have been properly screened by the court.

On Friday, Deadline obtained documents relating to the person in question.

“It appears that Juror No. 15 was not, in fact, the same individual as listed on the jury panel,” read a motion filed by the actress’ legal team. “Ms. Heard’s due process was therefore compromised. Under these circumstances, a mistrial should be declared, and a new trial ordered.”

According to the redacted filing, the summons for jury duty was sent out to a Virginia resident in April. But there were two people living at the same address — a 77-year-old (who was the one summoned) and a 52-year-old (who showed up in court).


“Thus, the 52-year-old- (redacted) sitting on the jury for six weeks was never summoned for jury duty on April 11 and did not ‘appear in the list,’ as required.”

But in a written order issued Wednesday, Azcarate rejected Heard’s claims and said the juror issue specifically was irrelevant and that her legal team couldn’t demonstrate how the error showed prejudice against her.

“The juror was vetted, sat for the entire jury, deliberated, and reached a verdict. The only evidence before this Court is that this juror and all jurors followed their oaths, the Court’s instructions, and orders. This Court is bound by the competent decision of the jury,” Azcarate wrote.

Depp’s lawyers also fired back at her attempts to have the verdict thrown out saying that Heard didn’t prove that her defence was thwarted by the error.


“Unsurprisingly, Ms. Heard cites to no case law to support her argument that the service of Juror 15 if he is not the same individual that the Court assigned as Juror 15 somehow compromised her due process and would warrant the drastic remedy of ‘setting aside the verdict and ordering a new trial,’” Depp’s lawyers wrote in a statement obtained by Variety. “Ms. Heard makes no showing of any prejudice, and accordingly her speculative arguments fail.”

It is not clear if the juror intentionally misrepresented themselves as being born in 1945, and no explanation was given how the younger individual was selected to the jury without ever having to provide any official ID.


Depp, 59, sued Heard, 36, for $50 million, accusing her of defaming him with a 2018 op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post in which she described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” The three-time Oscar nominee denied her allegations of abuse and claimed the article ruined his career and led to a series of cancelled film projects, including a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean feature.


Heard hit back with her own $100 million counterclaim after the star’s former lawyer Adam Waldman called her allegations a hoax. Both accused one another of ruining their respective careers.

Depp won three claims against Heard, with a seven-person jury siding with the Edward Scissorhands star, finding there was “clear and convincing evidence” that his former spouse had defamed him. He was awarded $15 million (an amount that was reduced to $10.4 million). But Heard also had a small victory of her own when it found that she too was also defamed through statements Waldman made to the Daily Mail.




During an appearance on NBC’s TODAY show last month, Heard’s lawyer Elaine Bredehoft said the actress, who has forked over at least $6 million in legal fees battling her ex, “absolutely” cannot pay Depp.

Paul Bekman, a Baltimore lawyer who has also tried cases in Virginia, concurred with Depp’s lawyers telling the Associated Press that Heard’s team needed to raise any issues about the juror ahead of time.

“Anybody looking at a 52-year-old and a 77-year-old would be able to tell — hopefully — that there’s a difference of 25 years, and they would have the right to inquire about that,” he said. “I believe it is too late to complain about the juror.”

Azcarate also shot down Heard’s secondary arguments that the verdicts were “inconsistent and irreconcilable.”


Heard still has the ability to appeal the verdict to the Virginia Court of Appeals, but will have to post a bond for the full amount of the $10.35 million award while her appeal is pending.

The setback is just the latest in a series of legal woes for the Aquaman star.

New York Marine and General Insurance Co. has filed a lawsuit against Heard claiming they aren’t on the hook to cover any legal fees or damages after Depp’s victory.

“The jury’s factual findings establish that Heard’s liability is caused by the willful act(s) of Heard,” the company’s suit said.

The Sun has reached out to Heard’s reps for comment.

mdaniell@postmedia.com
 

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Amber Heard to appeal $10 million judgment in Johnny Depp defamation case
'We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First Amendment'

Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Denise Lavoie
Publishing date:Jul 21, 2022 • 16 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation

RICHMOND, Va. — Amber Heard notified a Virginia court Thursday that she will appeal the $10.35 million judgment she was ordered to pay ex-husband Johnny Depp during a high-profile defamation trial that exposed the inner workings of their troubled marriage.


Heard’s lawyers filed a notice of appeal in Fairfax County Circuit Court, where a six-week trial featured riveting testimony from both Heard and Depp. The document notifies the Virginia Court of Appeals that Heard intends to appeal the judgment, as well as rulings the judge made after the verdict, including rejecting Heard’s request to set aside the verdict and dismiss the lawsuit or order a new trial.

“We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First Amendment. We are therefore appealing the verdict,” a spokesperson for Heard said in a statement. “While we realize today’s filing will ignite the Twitter bonfires, there are steps we need to take to ensure both fairness and justice.”


Depp sued Heard for libel over a December 2018 op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post describing herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” Depp’s lawyers alleged he was defamed by the article even though it never mentioned him by name. Heard filed counterclaims, alleging that Depp’s former lawyer defamed her by publicly characterizing her abuse allegations as a hoax.

The jury ordered Heard to pay Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. The punitive damages were reduced to $350,000 under a state cap. The jury awarded Heard $2 million on her counterclaim.

Much of the testimony during the six-week trial focused on Heard’s claims that she had been physically and sexually abused by Depp at least a dozen times. Depp insisted that he never hit Heard and that she was the abuser.

“The jury listened to the extensive evidence presented during the six-week trial and came to a clear and unanimous verdict that the defendant herself defamed Mr. Depp in multiple instances,” a spokesperson for Depp said in a statement. “We remain confident in our case and that this verdict will stand.”
 
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Celebrities dumping Johnny Depp after revelations of unsealed court docs
Robert Downey Jr., Elle Fanning, Bella Hadid, Orlando Bloom and more have unliked Pirates star's Instagram post

Author of the article:Mark Daniell
Publishing date:Aug 09, 2022 • 21 hours ago • 4 minute read • 12 Comments

After quickly embracing him following his decisive win against his ex-wife Amber Heard in their explosive defamation trial in June, a number of big name Hollywood stars are seemingly having second thoughts about voicing their support for Johnny Depp.


The revelations come after a trove of court documents were unsealed last month that included graphic texts between the Pirates of the Caribbean star and shock rocker Marilyn Manson, Ellen Barkin’s damning claim that Depp plied her with drugs before their first sexual encounter, a text from his assistant that appeared to back up Heard’s claim that he attacked her on a private plane, reports that she walked away from a potential multi-million dollar settlement and news that the actor’s legal team sought to introduce nude photos of the Aquaman actress into evidence.

After a Virginia jury found Heard guilty of defaming Depp when she declared herself a survivor of domestic abuse in a 2018 op-ed for the Washington Post, the three-time Oscar nominee shared a message thanking his fans for their support. The Instagram post garnered 19 million likes, with several famous personalities among his well-wishers.




But since the release of the unsealed court documents, several sites, including Buzzfeed News and the Independent, have noted that celebrities that initially liked Depp’s post-trial posts are walking back their support.

The names have been checked against a master list on Reddit of celebrities who liked Depp’s post. Twitter user @k4mil1aa has also compiled a thread of the “most bizarre things Johnny Depp and his team did in the courtroom while everyone was busy laughing at bee jokes.”



According to the Independent, some of the celebrity names that initially supported Depp that unliked his post include Robert Downey Jr., Elle Fanning, Bella Hadid, Orlando Bloom, Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner, Zoey Deutch and Joey King.

Other notable personalities that have appeared to unlike Depp’s message include Amanda Knox, Maren Morris and Depp’s Hollywood Vampires bandmate Joe Perry.



By comparison, Heard’s post-trial message, in which she expressed “disappointment” in the verdict, has received a paltry 480,000 likes with her biggest endorsement coming from her Aquaman co-star Jason Momoa.

After she was found guilty of defaming her former spouse, Heard contended that social media played a role in the jury’s decision.

“Even somebody who is sure I’m deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I’m lying, you still couldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there’s been a fair representation,” Heard said in an interview with the TODAY show’s Savannah Guthrie. “You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair.”




Videos with the hashtag #amberturd were viewed billions of times on TikTok. Those included a video in which TikTok user @sansanjovs ridiculed Heard’s tearful testimony. So far, that mocking clip has notched 2.2 million likes and was captioned, “A fun little web we’re spinning.”

As of mid-June, the hashtag #justiceforjohnnydepp had over 20 billion views on TikTok, while #amberheardisguilty had 957.9 million views on the social media platform. By comparison, #justiceforamberheard notched just 90 million views.


Heard’s attorney Elaine Bredehoft told CBS Mornings that the coordinated social media crusade aimed at discrediting her client’s allegations likely played a role in the jury’s decision.

“Not only did we have a group of Depp fans that were there every day – 100 were allowed in, they lined up at one in the morning for their wristbands to be in that courtroom – but we had everything on camera, and we had tremendous social media that was very, very, very much against Amber.”

The newly unsealed pre-trial papers published online by legal commentator Andrea Burkhart were funded by Depp fans, who thought the revelations Judge Penney Azcarate kept out of the courtroom would be a boon to their onscreen hero. But with news from the documents slowly making their way online, legal experts say the move may have backfired on the fallen star.


“Absolutely, it was worse for Johnny,” Brett Ward, a New York family attorney, told Rolling Stone. “Johnny Depp’s team won some key pretrial legal rulings. Overall, because he had better rulings during the pre-trial portion of the case, the stuff that he kept out hurts him more. The totality of the material now looks worse for him.”


“I think it would have been naive for anybody to think all these motions were only going to have flattering things for Johnny Depp and unflattering things for Amber Heard,” legal analyst Emily D. Baker added.

But not everyone is seemingly hitting pause on their support of Depp. On Tuesday, TMZ reported that Depp has inked a seven-figure deal with Dior to continue on as the face of their Sauvage men’s cologne.


Last month, Heard’s attempt to have the verdict tossed due to jury fraud was nixed by Judge Azcarate. But she is appealing the jury’s verdict, with a spokesperson telling the Toronto Sun that The Danish Girl star feels there is sufficient evidence to overturn the $10.35 million judgement.

“We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First Amendment,” they wrote in an email to the Sun. “We are therefore appealing the verdict. While we realize today’s filing will ignite the Twitter bonfires, there are steps we need to take to ensure both fairness and justice.”

Depp, who was also found guilty on one count of defamation, is also appealing the ruling, with his lawyer Camille Vasquez telling CBS Mornings that his legal team has to “protect our client’s interest.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com
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Amber Heard taps new legal team for Johnny Depp appeal
Author of the article:Mark Daniell
Publishing date:Aug 15, 2022 • 16 hours ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation

Amber Heard is switching up her legal team as she prepares to appeal her guilty verdict in the Johnny Depp defamation trial.


On Monday, a spokesperson for the 36-year-old actress said that the change, which will see the departure of lawyer Elaine Bredehoft, was necessary because of “new evidence.”

“When it comes to protecting the fundamental right of Freedom of Speech, we look at the jury’s decision — to paraphrase a famous quote — not ‘as the beginning of the end, but merely the end of the beginning.’ A different court warrants different representation, particularly as so much new evidence is now coming to light,” a spokesperson for Heard said in a statement to the Toronto Sun.

Heard’s new team, David L. Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown, successfully defended The New York Times against Sarah Palin’s defamation lawsuit earlier this year.

“This is the perfect time to pass the baton,” said Bredehoft. “I have pledged to Amber and her appellate team my complete cooperation and assistance as they move forward on a path towards success.”


“We welcome the opportunity to represent Ms. Heard in this appeal as it is a case with important First Amendment implications for every American,” said Axelrod and Brown in a joint statement. “We’re confident the appellate court will apply the law properly without deference to popularity, reverse the judgment against Ms. Heard, and reaffirm the fundamental principles of Freedom of Speech.”

In a release, Heard trumpeted her new team. “Jay has been representing journalists, news organizations, documentary filmmakers, and other speakers in First Amendment cases for 30 years. David is a former federal prosecutor and first-chair trial lawyer who represents companies and individuals in high-stakes civil litigation.”



Depp, 59, sued Heard for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed in which she claimed to be a survivor of domestic abuse. The three-time Oscar nominee claimed the article ruined his career and maintained she was the abuser in their relationship.

A seven-person jury mostly sided with him, awarding the actor $10.35 million in damages. Heard counter-sued Depp, who was found guilty on one count of defamation through his former lawyer Adam Waldman.


Newly released court documents that were unsealed last month have proved to be contentious after it was revealed that Depp wanted to include nude photos of the actress at trial, while her team wanted to enter into evidence his medications for erectile dysfunction as a means to prove their allegations he was an abuser.

One Twitter user @k4mil1aa sought to discredit Depp by compiling a thread of the “most bizarre things Johnny Depp and his team did in the courtroom while everyone was busy laughing at bee jokes.”

But as of Monday, that account appeared to have been deactivated with some Depp fans alleging it was run by someone in Heard’s camp.

Last month, Heard’s attempt to have the verdict tossed due to jury fraud was nixed by Judge Penney Azcarate. But she is appealing the jury’s verdict, with a spokesperson telling the Toronto Sun that The Danish Girl star feels there is sufficient evidence to overturn the $10.35 million judgement.

“We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First Amendment,” they wrote in an email to the Sun. “We are therefore appealing the verdict. While we realize today’s filing will ignite the Twitter bonfires, there are steps we need to take to ensure both fairness and justice.”

Depp, who was also found guilty on one count of defamation, is also appealing the ruling, with his lawyer Camille Vasquez telling CBS Mornings that his legal team has to “protect our client’s interest.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com
 

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Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s defamation battle going to be movie
Author of the article:Bang Showbiz
Bang Showbiz
Publishing date:Sep 16, 2022 • 23 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s defamation battle is going to be the subject of a new movie.


The former couple spent several months locked in a legal battle over a 2018 op-ed the 36-year-old actress wrote about being a victim of domestic abuse but in June, the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actor – who wasn’t named in the article – was awarded over $10 million in damages, while the ‘Aquaman’ star received $2 million in a counter suit.


Both stars are appealing the verdicts, which came over a year after the 59-year-old actor lost a libel case in the U.K. after The Sun newspaper branded him a “wife beater” and a subsequent appeal.

And now, the pair’s turbulent relationship and the resulting legal battle will be the focus of a film titled ‘Hot Take: The Depp/ Heard Trial’, with Mark Hapka and Megan Davis signed up to play the Hollywood stars.


Melissa Marty has been cast as Johnny’s lawyer, Camille Vasquez, while Marry Carrig will portray Elaine Bredehoft, who served as Amber’s attorney.

Sara Lohman will direct from a script by Guy Nicolucci.

Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi, said in a statement: “With our partners at MarVista, this Tubi Original was fast-tracked into production to capture a timely take on a story that became part of the cultural zeitgeist, painting a unique picture of what millions watched play out in the headlines over the summer.”

Amber appealed the judge’s decision in the defamation case on July 21.

The ‘Danish Girl’ star was denied a request for a mistrial a week earlier after arguing one of the jurors on the case should not have been sitting as his summons was intended for his father, who had the same name and lived at the same address.

And her ex-husband’s lawyers later admitted they would have “moved on” and not filed a counter appeal if Amber hadn’t submitted her paperwork.

Camille said: “It was expected. I mean she’s indicated since the day she lost the trial that she was going to appeal.

“It’s pretty standard legal procedure. We just hope that the court will uphold the verdict which we think was the right verdict and allow both parties to move on.”
 

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Amber Heard will argue 16 points in appeal against Johnny Depp over defamation trial
Author of the article:Bang Showbiz
Bang Showbiz
Publishing date:Oct 14, 2022 • 1 day ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation

Amber Heard will argue 16 points in her appeal against Johnny Depp over their defamation trial.


Documents filed at the Court of Appeals of Virginia show the 36-year-old Aquaman actress – who owes her former husband Johnny $10.3 million (C$14.3 million) in damages – is complaining records including medical records were not lodged as evidence.


Her 16-point appeal paper also shows she believes the court “erred” in not allowing into evidence the fact Johnny, 59, lost a similar defamation trial against Heard in the United Kingdom, along with his statements that followed the loss.

Her legal team also condemned the court for allowing testimony about Heard’s false claim she had donated $3.5 million (C$4.86 million) to the American Civil Liberties Union from her divorce settlement from Depp.

Central to her appeal is a claim the court mistakenly allowed Depp to argue or suggest damages could be awarded based on statements made before the publication of Heard’s op-ed piece for the Washington Post.


Her article about sexual violence, printed in 2018, didn’t name the actor as an abuser but he said it was defamatory to his character.

Depp owes Heard $2 million (C$2.78 million) as a result of their six-week defamation trial, which she says in her appeal lacked “clear and convincing evidence” to show she acted out of malice, which must be proven in defamation cases.

“The trial court erred in denying the motion to set aside the jury’s verdict with regard to Mr. Depp’s failure to prove that the allegedly defamatory statements in the challenged op-ed each conveyed a defamatory meaning about him by implication and that any such implication was both designed and intended by Ms. Heard,” the appeal document said.

Depp was awarded $10 to $15 million (C$13.88 to C$20.82 million) in compensatory damages and $5 million (C$6.94 million) in punitive damages, but the judge later capped the damages at $350,000 (C$485,800) leaving Depp with a total of $8.35 million (C$11.59 million.)

Heard won one of her three countersuit claims related to statements made by Depp’s lawyer suggesting the actress and her friends had trashed their apartment before calling the police.

She was awarded $2 million (C$2.78 million) in compensatory damages out of the $100 million (C$138.8 million) she sought from Depp.


 

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Johnny Depp files appeal in Amber Heard defamation case
Author of the article:Bang Showbiz
Bang Showbiz
Publishing date:Nov 04, 2022 • 21 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation

Johnny Depp has appealed the “erroneous” decision that awarded Amber Heard $2 million in damages in their defamation trial.


The former couple were embroiled in a six-week trial earlier this year over an op-ed the Aquaman star wrote in 2018 about being a victim of domestic violence, with the Pirates of the Caribbean star ultimately winning over $10 million in damages after winning all three of his defamation claims and his ex-wife winning one of her three countersuit claims.


But on Wednesday, Johnny’s legal team made a filing in the Virginia Court of Appeals, arguing the 59-year-old star should not be held liable for comments made by his attorney, Adam Waldman, who had told the Daily Mail in comments published on April 26, 2020, that Amber and her friends had set-up his client by calling police with a “hoax” of abuse claims in 2016, remarks the jury decided he had made while acting as an agent for the Black Mass actor.


Johnny’s lawyers argued in court documents that, despite an “emphatic favourable verdict” for their client, “the trial court was confronted with a number of novel and complex legal and factual issues, and although the trial court decided the vast majority of those issues sensibly and correctly, a few rulings were erroneous.”



They continued: “The judgment in Ms. Heard’s favour on that lone statement is erroneous. Ms. Heard’s claim was fatally flawed, and the trial court should have granted Mr. Depp’s motion for summary judgment and his motion to strike the evidence.


“Ms. Heard presented no evidence at trial that Mr. Depp was personally involved in directing or making any of the three Waldman Statements. Indeed, Mr. Depp testified that he had never even seen the Waldman Statements prior to the filing of the Counterclaim in August of 2020.

“Mr. Waldman is an independent contractor, whose allegedly tortious conduct is not automatically attributable to Mr. Depp” and “no evidence of Mr. Waldman’s actual malice was presented at trial” by Heard’s legal team.

“This Court should reverse the judgment on Ms. Heard’s Counterclaim as to the April 27 Waldman Statement, but should otherwise affirm the judgment in Mr. Depp’s favour.”

Amber has also lodged an appeal over the verdict, having previously failed in a bid to have a mistrial declared amid claims of jury fraud.