Johnny Depp v Amber Heard trial news summary: 7 June 2022
Depp v Heard verdict: headlines
- Johnny Depp's lawyer, Camille Vasquez, who rose to prominence during the trial has been promoted to the role of partner at the law firm Brown Rudnick.
-Amber Heard’s sister speaks out about the verdict reach in the trial
- Amber Heard's lawyer says she has "excellent grounds" to appeal the jury's decision.
Depp awarded $10.35m in damages; Heard to receive $2m after winning on one count of defamation counter-suit
- Heard to appeal and "has some excellent grounds", lawyer says
- Depp expected to return as pirate Jack Sparrow
Read more about the case from AS USA:
The mutual defamation trial between Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard wrapped up 1 June when the jury hearing the lawsuits handed down their verdict. Although both were found liable for defamation, the decision was a victory for the Pirates of the Caribbean star.
Depp posted a “thank you” message to his “most treasured, loyal and unwavering supporters” on his recently created TikTok account. While the actor feels vindicated and will “move forward,” a spokesperson for the “heartbroken” Heard said that while “he’s ‘moving forward,’ women’s rights are moving backward.” Read more.
Johnny Depp joins TikTok and racks up over 4.7 million followers
Johnny Depp has opened up his own personal TikTok account and by Tuesday afternoon had amassed over 4.7 million followers. Depp's bio description read simply, 'Occasional Thespian'.
His first video, a 30-second clip, features footage of fans supporting him during the trial and his stage appearances with Jeff Beck. It was accompanied by text thanking his fans. It already has 1.4 million likes.
"To all of my most treasured, loyal and unwavering supporters. We’ve been everywhere together, we have seen everything together. We have walked the same road together. We did the right thing together, all because you cared. And now, we will all move forward together. You are, as always, my employers and once again I am whittled down to no way to say thank you, other than just by saying thank you. So, thank you. My love & respect, JD"
Johnny Depp sings 'Time' with Jeff Beck at Birmingham Symphony Hall
Johnny Depp singing 'Time' from ex-Beach Boy Dennis Wilson's 1977 album Pacific Ocean Blue with Jeff Beck at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Monday night.
Depp spends £50,000 on “champagne, wine, and cocktails” at Birmingham curry house
Johnny Depp splashed £50,000 on “champagne, wine, and cocktails” at Varasani, a luxury Indian restaurant in Birmingham while joining Jeff Beck on the guitarist's UK tour.
Depp was reported as describing the meal as"a little treat" for himself and his 21 guests and left a very generous tip for staff working at the restaurant. He had ealier appeared on stage alongside Beck at the city's Symphony Hall.
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Tired jurors nodded off during trial
Several members of the jury were seen to doze off during the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard lawsuit trail, court stenographer Judy Bellinger revealed in an interview with Law & Crime Network.
"I remember, the jury was very intent, they were listening very intently. And, unfortunately, when the jury was chosen, we knew that there would be some that would not make it right the way through. There were alternates," she explained, before adding, "There were a few jurors that were dozing off - in both the back row and front row. And it was tough because there was a lot of video deposition and you know they would just sit there and all of a sudden I'd see their head drop.
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ACLU demands $86k in costs from Depp
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was involved in the publication of the infamous op-ed authored by Amber Heard, which resulted in her being found to have defamed Johnny Depp in a Virginia court last week. The ACLU was requested to produce various forms of evidence as part of the courtcase, which it did as asked. However the organisation is now requesting payment from Depp for the additional work, something which the actor's legal team have sought to oppose.
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Last Thursday the high-profile court case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard was brought to a close when the jury returned a verdict in Depp's favour. As a result, Heard was ordered to pay $15 million in compensation to Depp.
During the course of the trial Camille Vasquez, a lead attorney for Depp, rose to fame in verbal battles with Heard. She was seen by many to be the crucial member of Depp’s team and she has been rewarded by being promoted to partner at law firm Brown Rudnick. The 38-year-old said that she was "proud of the uniquely talented team I’ve had the privilege to lead."
Who is Camille Vasquez?
The lead attorney for Johnny Depp, Camille Vasquez, has been promoted to partner at her law firm after her performance in the very public trial. In a statement release within the last hour, Vasquez said:
“I am delighted that Brown Rudnick has given me its full vote of confidence by having me join the partnership. I’m proud of the uniquely talented team I’ve had the privilege to lead, which exemplified teamwork and collaboration, and I look forward to continuing to represent Brown Rudnick’s culture of excellence.”
Here's what we know about the lawyer who represented Depp for weeks in the Virginia courtroom...
Depp lawyer Camille Vasquez promoted to partner
Camille Vasquez, attorney for Johnny Depp in his highprofile courtcase against Amber Heard, has been promoted to partner at her law firm Brown Rudnick. The press release confirming her promotion made clear that her performance in the Depp - Heard trial had been a key factor in making partner.
“We are delighted to welcome Camille to the partnership,” wrote William Baldiga, chairman and CEO of Brown Rudnick, in a statement. “Historically, we have reserved this announcement for the end of our fiscal year. But Camille’s performance during the Johnny Depp trial proved to the world that she was ready to take this next step now. We are incredibly proud of her and look forward to what she will accomplish as our newest partner.”
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Attorneys claim Heard's theatricality may have counted against her
In the days after the court case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, one alleged juror wrote on social media that the jury had felt unsettled by Heard's habit of staring directly at them during her testimony. At point, spectators criticised Heard's 'theatricality' in recounting her recollection of her relationship with Depp.
Depp was awarded $15 million in damages from the case, while Heard's countersuit was awarded $2 million from Depp.
One of Johnny Depp’s lawyers, Camile Vasquez, has taken center stage this week as his team began their cross-examination of Amber Heard. Vasquez, an attorney with Brown Rudnick, a major international law firm, has been leading the cross-examination.
According to the firm, her expertise is in “parallel reputation management and crisis communications issues arising from these engagements.” She was hired to form part of Depp’s team based on her experience in “plaintiff-side defamation suits” and contract litigation.
Depp v Heard jurors reportedly fell asleep during testimony
In an interview with Law & Crime Network Judy Bellinger, stenographer for Johnny Depp’s defamation trial, claimed that several jurors were falling asleep at points in the seven-week trial.
“There were a few jurors that were dozing off,” she said. “It was tough because there was a lot of video deposition... And they’d just sit there, and all of the sudden I’d see their head drop.”
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A look back at Depp's post-trial statement
"Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed.
All in the blink of an eye.
False, very serious and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me. It had already traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career.
And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled."
Depp set to return as Captain Jack Sparrow
According to an insider at Disney, Johnny Depp will likely return as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The actor was dropped, reportedly due to the very public accusations of domestic abuse, but appears to have had his image rehabilitated by the trial.
“I absolutely believe post-verdict that Pirates is primed for rebooting with Johnny as Capt. Jack back on board,” the former Disney exec, who wasn’t named, told People.
“There is just too much potential box-office treasure for a beloved character deeply embedded in the Disney culture.”
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The responses to the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard judgement were clearly contrasting. Depp, who had surprised everyone by heading off to England after closing statements had been made on the Friday to perform on stage with Jeff Beck, took to Instagram to express his gratitude to the jury saying that he was “truly humbled” and explained that he had been motivated to bring the case forward after his life, “the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me,” changed after Heard’s article was published.
However Heard now appears focused on the prospect of an appeal against the verdict, with her attorney telling interviewers in the US that she is unable to pay the $15 million compensation ordered by the court.
Depp celebrates verdict with $60,000 Indian meal
Johnny Depp reportedly ran up a sizeable bill at a curry house in Birmingham on Sunday, just days after receiving news of his courtroom success in Virginia.
Together with musician Jeff Beck and around 20 other guests, Depp spent around $60,000 at the upmarket Varanasi restaurant, the Daily Mail reports. According to the Mail, the five-figure bill included bottles of champagne costing just under $10,000 a pop. Depp and Beck are due to perform at Birmingham's Symphony Hall on Monday.
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The story behind the infamous Depp hug
A couple of days ago, Judy Bellinger, the stenographer in the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard trial in Virginia, sat down with Law & Crime to explain why a video emerged of her hugging Depp.
There were rumours online that Bellinger was partying with the actor, but she says she encountered him when she picked up her equipment from Depp's legal team, who had collected her things from the courtroom after she found herself locked out.
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A Virginia court has ordered Amber Heard to pay $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, while also requiring Depp to pay $2 million to Heard for articles written by his publicist in The Daily Mail.
When asked if Heard is in a position to make these payments to Depp, her attorney, Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, answered, “Oh, no. Absolutely not.” These comments were made during an interview with The Today Show.