Johnny Depp has filed an appeal against Amber Heard’s “erroneous” counterclaim win, which came following their multi-million dollar defamation trial. Here’s what you need to know.
Lawyers on behalf of the Pirates of the Caribbean actor said the judgment in the Aquaman star’s favor was “fatally flawed”, but that those in Depp’s favor should still stand. The Danish Girl actress was awarded two million dollars in damages following her counterclaim, which alleged that she had been defamed by one of Mr Depp’s lawyers, Adam Waldman.
Johnny Depp Files Another Appeal In Amber Heard Case
The counterclaim stated that the actor was “vicariously liable” for the comments by Waldman, made to the Daily Mail in 2020, which had described Heard’s abuse allegations as a “hoax.”
“Mr Depp does not appeal the verdict on his claim, nor does he appeal the verdict in his favor on two of the three Waldman Statements,” the documents stated. “His appeal relates solely to the Waldman Statement on which Ms Heard prevailed, a statement in a Daily Mail article dated April 27, 2020 (‘April 27 Waldman Statement’). The judgment in Ms Heard’s favor on that lone statement is erroneous.”
It continued: “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. Even if the Court were to conclude that Mr Depp could be held liable for Mr Waldman’s allegedly tortious conduct, the trial court nonetheless erred in denying Mr Depp’s Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion to Strike because Ms Heard failed to present evidence to establish one of the required elements of defamation.”
The actor sued his former partner over a 2018 article she wrote for the Washington Post about her experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse, which his lawyers said falsely accused him of being an abuser.
In June this year, a jury at Fairfax County Court in the US returned a verdict in his favor and he was awarded $10.3 million dollars for damage to his reputation. “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 favor,” the filing concluded.
Since the trial’s conclusion Mr Depp has begun a comeback in the entertainment industry.
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