Johnny Depp Loses Bid to Dismiss Amber Heard’s Counterclaim
variety.comGene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA Virginia judge on Tuesday denied Johnny Depp’s motion to dismiss Amber Heard’s counterclaim, ruling that the issue should be decided by the jury.The counterclaim alleges that Depp’s attorney, Adam Waldman, defamed Heard and damaged her career when he accused her and her friends of perpetrating an “abuse hoax.” Heard’s side rested their case Tuesday morning, prompting Depp’s team to make the routine motion to dismiss the claim.Depp’s attorney, Ben Chew, argued that Waldman was offering his opinion, and that therefore he cannot have committed defamation.
Chew also argued that there is no evidence that Depp saw or knew about Waldman’s statements until the counterclaim was filed.“He did believe, and will to his dying day, that Ms.
Heard’s claims of abuse were patently false,” Chew said. Ben Rottenborn, Heard’s attorney, argued that Waldman was acting as Depp’s lawyer, and that Depp is therefore responsible for Waldman’s conduct.
He also said there is abundant evidence that Depp abused Heard, and that therefore it should be left to the jury to decide whether to award damages on the counterclaim.“The counterclaim statements are 100% false,” Rottenborn said. “There was no hoax perpetrated.
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