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Johnny Depp responds to Amber Heard’s motion to overturn libel trial verdict

In a memo, Johnny Depp’s legal defence team responds to Amber Heard’s request to overturn the jury’s verdict: “The law is clear.”

Daniela Barrera
Daniela BarreraDann_arvz
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on June 1, 2022 shows US Actor Johnny Depp (L) attending the trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 24, 2022 and US actress Amber Heard looking on in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 24, 2022. - US actress Amber Heard said she was disappointed "beyond words" on June 1, 2022 after a jury found she had made defamatory claims of abuse against her ex-husband Johnny Depp, calling it a "setback" for women. (Photo by JIM WATSON / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
JIM WATSONGetty

The legal dispute between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard appears to be far from over. After a six-week trial on 1 June, the jury in Fairfax, Virginia, found that Amber Heard defamed Johnny Depp in a 2018 article written for the Washington Post, however, the jury also found in favour of the actress. As a result, Depp was ordered to pay $2 million in punitive damages for defaming Heard while trying to defend himself, while Heard was told to pay $10.35 million in damages to the actor. Forgotten what happened? Allow us to help.

Depp’s latest Heard rejection

Now, more than a month after the verdict, Amber’s legal team has filed a motion to set aside the defamation trial verdict, arguing that it is not supported by evidence. In addition, it asks to “investigate improper jury service.”

Actors Amber Heard and Johnny Depp watch as the jury comes into the courtroom.
Full screen
Actors Amber Heard and Johnny Depp watch as the jury comes into the courtroom.POOLREUTERS

And just a few days after Heard’s motion, Depp’s legal team has responded.

Via a memorandum obtained by Deadline, Depp’s lawyers were adamant and ask the Virginia court to “reject Ms. Heard’s unsubstantiated assertion.”

The verdict was well supported by the overwhelming evidence, consistent with the law, and should not be set aside.

Depp lawyers

“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,” claims the Fairfax County filing.

“Virginia law is clear that a verdict is not to be set aside unless it is ‘plainly wrong or without evidence to support it,’” Depp’s Brown Rudnick’s lawyers state.

It continues.

“Here, the verdict was well supported by the overwhelming evidence, consistent with the law, and should not be set aside. Mr. Depp respectfully submits that the Court should deny Ms. Heard’s Post-Trial Motions, which verge into the frivolous.”

Initially, Judge Azcarate insisted at a final sentencing hearing on June 24 that Heard must post $8.35 million bail before any appeal can be considered moving forward.

So far, Heard’s representatives have not commented on the matter.