Amber Heard's new legal team has filed an appeal against the verdict in the defamation suit brought by her former husband, Johnny Depp.
The US jury found in June that an opinion piece in The Washington Post in which she said she “became a public figure representing domestic abuse” defamed Depp to the tune of $10 million.
Heard secured one of three counter-claims against Depp, 59, and was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages, against which Depp is appealing.
“This case also should never have gone to trial because another court had already concluded that Depp abused Heard on multiple occasions," the filing said.
After Depp filed this case, the UK High Court of Justice ruled in a separate defamation action brought by him that Heard’s abuse allegations were true,” the document read.
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The fate of actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is now in the hands of jurors. AP -
Heard's lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn told jurors in closing arguments that if they believe Depp abused his ex-wife, physically or mentally, 'Amber wins'. AP -
Depp on a break in between closing arguments. Getty Images / AFP -
Depp breaks during closing arguments in the defamation trial he brought against his ex-wife. Getty Images / AFP -
Depp takes a break with Beechy Colclough. Getty Images / AFP -
Depp waves to screaming fans on a break. Getty Images / AFP -
Throngs of Depp's fans have gathered outside the Fairfax County Courthouse throughout the six-week trial. Getty Images / AFP -
One morning, Depp said that he would make all his fans pancakes for breakfast. Getty Images / AFP -
Heard’s lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn encouraged jurors to read her 'Washington Post' op-ed again. AFP -
Heard speaks with her legal team in the courtroom. AFP -
Depp leaves the courtroom during a break. AFP -
Depp's lawyer Benjamin Chew gives closing arguments. AFP -
Spectators listen to Mr Chew give his closing arguments. EPA -
For six weeks, the gallery has been packed with Depp fans. EPA -
Depp listens as his lawyer gives closing arguments. Reuters -
Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez gives closing arguments. AFP -
Heard leaves during a break in the trial. AFP -
Heard’s lawyer Elaine Bredehoft speaks during closing arguments. AFP -
Heard speaks with her legal team. AFP -
Depp smirked and raised his eyebrows through much of the closing arguments. Reuters
Lawyers also contend that the trial should have never taken place in the state of Virginia.
Heard and Depp live in Los Angeles but his lawyers filed suit there on the argument that that is where The Post’s servers were.
“They filed there because he wouldn’t have won in Los Angeles,” someone close to the case told The National.
“A California jury would not have been starstruck by Depp. They would’ve seen right through him.”
Heard said the decision "undoubtedly will have a chilling effect on other women who wish to speak about abuse involving powerful men”.
She asks in the 156-page filing that the verdict be tossed or that she be granted a new trial.
Just last week, the abuse trial of actor Danny Masterson ended in a mistrial after three women accused him of similar acts of violence.
In New York, screenwriter Paul Haggis was found guilty on all counts in a civil rape trial.
The filing also objects to Judge Penney Azcarate’s decision to reject pieces of evidence such as Heard’s therapist’s notes in which she speaks of the abuse.
Depp and Heard met in 2009 when she auditioned to star opposite him in The Rum Diary. They married in 2015, but it was short-lived.
In May 2016, Heard filed for divorce and for a domestic violence temporary restraining order against Depp in Los Angeles Superior Court, submitting a declaration describing his temper, paranoia and substance abuse issues.
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Amber Heard hugs her lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, after the jury found her liable for defamation against her ex-husband, Johnny Depp on June 1, 2022. Pool / EPA -
Johnny Depp's lawyers Camille Vasquez and Ben Chew arrive to give a statement to the media outside the Fairfax County Courthouse after the jury found Heard liable for defamation. AP -
Fans of Depp react to the verdict outside the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse. EPA -
Supporters Depp and supporters of Heard stand outside the courthouse during the trial. EPA -
Amber Heard said her sister, Whitney Henriquez, got into a physical altercation with Johnny Depp. AP -
Heard described several instances where she alleged Depp physically abused her – some of her testimony turning extremely graphic. AFP -
Travis McGivern, a security guard for Depp, detailed a number of volatile arguments between Depp and Heard. EPA -
A fan of Johnny Depp waits outside the courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP -
Depp fans cheer outside the courthouse. Reuters -
Clinical and forensic psychologist Shannon Curry testifies on behalf of Depp, saying Heard suffers from borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. She made the diagnosis after reviewing her medical records and speaking with her over 12 hours. EPA -
Forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes said Heard suffered from PTSD due to the violence she allegedly experienced at Depp's hand. AP -
Depp denied ever having struck Heard but admitted he has struggled with alcohol and drug use. EPA -
Heard became emotional when giving details of alleged past abuse. AFP -
Christi Dembrowski, Depp's older sister, said Heard had been verbally abusive towards him. AFP -
Raquel Pennington, a friend of Heard, becomes emotional as a picture of Heard is seen on screen as evidence of alleged abuse. EPA -
Kate Moss, a former girlfriend of Depp, said he did not push her down the stairs. EPA -
A 'Pirates of the Caribbean'-themed vehicle sits in front of the courthouse. EPA -
Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez grilled Heard when she took the stand, often interrupting her. AFP -
Fans cheer as Depp arrives at the courthouse. Hundreds of people queued overnight just to nab a seat in the courtroom. AFP
“I had to leave him,” the Aquaman star told the jury at the trial. “I knew I wouldn't survive if I didn't.
“Johnny would always say the only way out of [the marriage] was death. At the time, [filing for divorce] felt like the hardest thing I've ever had to do."
In November, feminist leader and Ms publisher Gloria Steinem, along with 130 other leaders and organisations, wrote an open letter in support of Heard.
"The vilification of Ms Heard and ongoing online harassment of her and those who have voiced support for her have been unprecedented in both vitriol and scale," the open letter read.
"Much of this harassment was fuelled by disinformation, misogyny, biphobia, and a monetised social media environment where a woman’s allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault were mocked for entertainment."
Ms Azcarate's decision to allow cameras in the courtroom also sparked many debates as proceedings with allegations of domestic abuse are rarely televised.
The trial took place over a span of seven weeks and is estimated to have been watched by more than a billion viewers.
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A mutual friend said that Johnny Depp and his wife Amber Heard were very in love yet often 'vicious' towards one another. -
Johnny Depp leaves court after jury selection in his $50 million defamation lawsuit against former wife Heard. EPA -
US actress Amber Heard leaves the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia on April 11. AFP -
Depp filed a defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard, after she wrote an opinion piece in 'The Washington Post' in 2018 that, without naming him, accused him of domestic abuse. Reuters -
Jury selection began on April 11 in the defamation case involving allegations of spousal abuse between Depp and Heard. AFP -
Depp fan David Laman holds a poster outside the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse as jury selection progressed. Reuters -
Tiffany Lunn, a supporter of Depp, outside the court in Fairfax, Virginia. AP -
Johnny Depp fans at the courthouse. AP -
The defamation case brought by Depp against former wife Heard is expected to last between five and six week. Reuters -
Depp leaves the High Court in London, England, on July 22, 2020, during the libel case there. Reuters -
Heard arrives at the High Court in London. Reuters -
Depp and Heard at the 72nd Venice Film Festival in northern Italy, 2015. Reuters
