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Amber Heard has had a big shake-up of her authorized crew forward of her enchantment in opposition to Johnny Depp, with Elaine Bredehoft now not on the case.
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor was victorious in his $50million defamation trial in opposition to his ex-wife earlier this 12 months, following her op-ed for the Washington Submit, wherein she mentioned her experiences with home abuse.
Though the 59-year-old wasn’t named within the 2018 piece, his legal professionals argued that it implied he was sexually and bodily abusive over the course of their relationship – one thing he has fiercely denied.
Following a bombshell trial on the Fairfax County Courthouse, the jury present in his favor and awarded him $10m, whereas the 36-year-old received one in every of her $100m countersuit claims and was given $2m.
Quickly after the proceedings ended, Heard confirmed that she could be lodging an enchantment, and has switched up her crew in preparation for submitting it.
The Justice League actress has employed Ballard Spahr as her lead counsel, led by David L Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown – who made headlines not too long ago after they efficiently defended The New York Occasions in opposition to Sarah Palin’s defamation lawsuit.
Ben Rottenborn, who was by Heard’s facet all through the trial, might be persevering with to signify her as co-counsel, whereas Bredehoft has stepped down.
‘We welcome the chance to signify Ms Heard on this enchantment as it's a case with vital First Modification implications for each American,’ Axelrod and Brown shared in a joint assertion.
‘We’re assured the appellate court docket will apply the regulation correctly with out deference to recognition, reverse the judgment in opposition to Ms Heard, and reaffirm the basic ideas of Freedom of Speech.’
‘That is the proper time to move the baton,’ Bredehoft mentioned. ‘I've pledged to Amber and her appellate crew my full cooperation and help as they transfer ahead on a path in direction of success.
A spokesperson for Heard added in an announcement: ’On the subject of defending the basic proper of Freedom of Speech, we take a look at the jury’s choice – to paraphrase a well-known quote – not “as the start of the tip, however merely the tip of the start”.
‘A unique court docket warrants totally different illustration, notably as a lot new proof is now coming to gentle.’
The authorized battle between the previous couple started in April, and was live-streamed on YouTube.
After six weeks of emotional testimony and skilled witnesses, the jury had been dismissed to deliberate, and returned with their verdict after simply 13 hours of contemplation, discovering in Depp’s favor.
Heard later filed a movement to enchantment the decision, together with her legal professionals submitting a discover in July claiming that errors had been made, which prevented a ‘simply and truthful verdict’ being returned.
Lower than 24 hours later, Depp’s attorneys adopted go well with and filed their very own paperwork on the counterclaim.
‘Plaintiff and counterclaim-defendant John C Depp, II, by counsel, hereby appeals to the Courtroom of Appeals of Virginia from all opposed rulings and from the ultimate judgment order of this Circuit Courtroom entered on June 24, 2022,’ the paperwork learn.
His consultant added: ‘The jury listened to the in depth proof offered in the course of the six-week trial and got here to a transparent and unanimous verdict that the defendant herself defamed Mr Depp in a number of situations.
‘We stay assured in our case and that this verdict will stand.’
Depp’s lawyer, Camille Vasquez, appeared on CBS after the enchantment was confirmed, and instructed Gayle King that they ‘completely’ have a plan in place to combat it.
‘Mr Depp ended up submitting his personal enchantment in order that the court docket may have the total file. And he or she insists on persevering with to litigate this matter. We've to guard our consumer’s curiosity,’ she instructed the host.
‘We're simply hopeful that the court docket will uphold the decision, which we predict was the fitting verdict, and permit each events to maneuver on.’
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