Amber Heard’s legal team changes in ex-Johnny Depp’s $50m defamation suit as key lawyers leave case amid travel and virus-related issues while Depp’s legal team call her past claims of abuse a ‘hoax’ and ‘fraud’
- Multiple lawyers representing starlet withdraw from case
- Attorneys say it’s due to scheduling complications amid pandemic
- Depp’s legal team called Heard’s past abuse allegations at actor ‘long-disproven frauds’
Amber Heard appeared to a suffer a setback as she defends herself in a $50 million defamation suit from ex Johnny Depp, as a chunk of her legal team withdrew from the case.
Among those who departed from defending Heard, 34, in the suit included Roberta Kaplan, one of the founders of the Time’s Up initiative aimed at ending sexual misconduct in show business.
Heard lawyers Kaplan, John Quinn, Julie Fink, Davida Brook were listed in court paperwork as seeking to leave the case in a move ‘endorsed’ by the actress, The Blast reported Monday, citing court docs.
The latest: Amber Heard, 34, appeared to a suffer a setback as she defends herself in a $50 million defamation suit from ex Johnny Depp, 57, as a chunk of her legal team withdrew from the case. She was snapped in Italy last year
The Austin, Texas-born beauty, according to court docs, has ‘retained the services of another trial counsel licensed in Virginia, Elaine Bredehoft,’ as the case is proceeding there.
Heard ‘does not object to the withdrawal of withdrawing counsel and has endorsed the proposed order granting leave to withdraw,’ according to court docs, the outlet reported.
The parting appeared to be amicable, as Heard’s previous firm of Kaplan Hecker & Fink LL told The Blast that they’ve ‘been proud to serve as Amber’s counsel,’ intimating that their departure was a byproduct of moving the case to Virginia amid revised arrangements in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown and gradual reopening.
‘In the strange and unexpected circumstances of today’s world, as travel and logistics have become more costly in light of the pandemic, we understand the decision to move the case to local, Virginia-based trial counsel,’ the law firm said. ‘We believe Amber and we believe in Amber.’
Individualist: Depp was seen in a bold ensemble earlier this year in London
Doomed: Heard and Depp were snapped in January of 2016 in LA, months before their split
Reacting to the personnel switch, Depp’s attorney Adam Waldman told The Blast that ‘for years, #TimesUp and others inexplicably hitched their wagons to Amber Heard’s abuse hoax.
‘Ms. Heard’s lawyers, one of whom co-founded the #TimesUp Legal Defense Fund, have now apparently unhitched from Ms Heard’s long-disproven frauds. We intend to discover why.’
Heard, who played the role of Mera in the 2018 blockbuster Aquaman is slated to return to the franchise for its 2022 sequel, is being probed by Depp’s legal team as to how much money of her settlement with the eccentric A-lister she donated to ACLU and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, as stipulated.
It’s been a difficult 2020 for Heard, as her mother Paige Heard died last month.
‘I am heartbroken and devastated beyond belief at the loss of my mom, Paige Heard,’ she said on social media. ‘She left us too early, clasping onto the memory of her beautiful, gentle soul. She will be missed from the very depths of our hearts forever.’
The actress, who’s been an outspoken advocate on a number of gender and social issues, including women’s rights and gender inequality, is currently dating cinematographer Bianca Butti.