Editor’s note: Some testimonials contain graphic language and descriptions of sexual and physical assault.
The civil trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard continued on Tuesday while Heard’s legal team rested its case. The trial of Depp’s $ 50 million lawsuit and Heard’s $ 100 million counterclaim is in its sixth week.
Judge Penney Azcarate rejected a motion by Depp’s lawyers to dismiss a $ 100 million counterclaim he filed against Depp. The counterclaim alleges that Depp’s then-lawyer, Adam Waldman, defamed Heard when he described his allegations of abuse as misleading.
Azcarate said the bar to launch a claim before going to the jury is very high and said there is enough evidence to allow it to move forward. She had already ruled that Depp could be held responsible for the statements made by her lawyer, a principle that Depp’s team is discussing.
Depp is suing Heard for defamation at Fairfax County Circuit Court for an opinion piece he wrote in December 2018 in The Washington Post describing him as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” His lawyers say he was defamed for the article even though he never mentioned his name.
CBS News has confirmed that Depp’s team is expected to name supermodel Kate Moss, who dated Depp in the 1990s. Earlier, Heard stated that during a fight in 2015 he recalled an alleged incident in which Depp pushed Moss down a ladder. This opened the door for Depp’s lawyers to call Moss at the stand.
Depp has denied ever hitting Heard and says she was the aggressor in the relationship. Heard has testified about more than a dozen separate cases of physical abuse he claims to have suffered at the hands of Depp.
Also on Tuesday, Walter Hamara, president of DC Films, stated that Amber Heard had no chemistry with “Aquaman” star Jason Momoa, and the studio considered replacing it with the sequel to the blockbuster. , “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” which will be released below. spring.
Hamara told the court, “Is it like what makes a movie star a movie star? You know when you see her. And the chemistry wasn’t there.”
Hamara’s testimony contrasts with Heard’s lawyers who claim his role was reduced and almost completely reduced from the sequel due to public reaction to his allegations of abuse against Depp.
Depp’s lawyers also called the actor’s doctor, Dr. David A. Kulber, to the booth. Heard’s lawyers called a hand surgeon who had not treated Depp and testified that the star’s injury to his finger was unlikely to have occurred, he said.
Wayne Dennison, Depp’s attorney, also tried to discredit expert Dr. David Spiegel, who was called by Heartd’s legal team and said during the previous testimony that he had not spoken or personally assessed with Depp, but had reviewed statements, medical records, videos and other evidence.
Dennison asked if Spiegel could assess Depp accurately without ever talking to him. He also noted that the doctor referred to Depp as an idiot during a recorded deposition.
“So I’m thinking back, where he came from in Europe for a deposition, a video deposition he made and spent one night, the night before,” Spiegel said. “And what I think I said is that … if you’re going to do something important for a trial you’re involved in, I think it would be an idiot to come the night before.”
Dennison also questioned why Spiegel thought Depp’s use of a headset on movie sets was a sign of cognitive impairment.
“Maybe Hollywood stars get lines through headphones all the time. And I don’t know, that could be said,” Spiegel said. “It seemed unusual to me, if you’re making a movie and you don’t know the lines. But like you said, I’m just judging, you know, what I do with lectures and that would never happen.”
Although it was reported that Heard’s lawyers would call Depp as a witness on Monday, they did not. Depp’s lawyers plan to remember the star in the rostrum ahead of Friday’s closing talks.
Both Depp and Heard have already testified extensively about the details of their toxic relationship.