By Charlotte Webster-
Amber Heard has hired new lawyers in her case against Johnny Depp, dropping Elaine Bredehoft for more expensive lawyers in her bod to overturn the first ruling.
Brown and Axelrod will be joined in the case by Heard’s existing lawyer, Ben Rottenborn, but Bredehoft said the appeal offered ‘the perfect time to pass the baton’.”
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The sudden decision to bring on board the Ballard Spahr lawyers Axelrod and Brown was made public today in a court filing in the Old Dominion. The make-up of the new Philadelphia originating defense team makes it apparent that Heard’s appeal will focus on the First Amendment aspect of her legal fracas with Depp.
“We welcome the opportunity to represent Ms. Heard in this appeal as it is a case with important First Amendment implications for every American,” said Heard’s newly minted attorneys in a statement this morning. “We’re confident the appellate court will apply the law properly without deference to popularity, reverse the judgment against Ms. Heard, and reaffirm the fundamental principles of Freedom of Speech,” Axelrod and Brown added.
The former Pirates of the Caribbean star sued his ex-wife in March 2019 for $50 million over a late 2018 Washington Post op-ed under Heard’s byline. In the article, the American Civil Liberties Union ambassador spoke about becoming a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” While Heard never mentioned Depp by name in the piece in the Jeff Bezos-owned broadsheet, the former Oscar nominee insisted the op-ed “devastated” his already tainted career
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After weeks of testimony from witnesses including both Depp and Heard, a jury largely supported the arguments presented by Depp’s representatives, and awarded him $10.4 million (£8.59m) in damages. Heard won part of her countersuit and was awarded $2m (£1.65m), however soon after the result was announced Bredehoft shared Heard’s plans to appeal the verdict.
Although the 59-year-old wasn’t named in the 2018 piece, his lawyers argued that it implied he was sexually and physically abusive over the course of their relationship – something he has fiercely denied.
Following a bombshell trial at the Fairfax County Courthouse, the jury found in his favor and awarded him $10m, while the 36-year-old won one of her $100m countersuit claims and was given $2m.
Soon after the proceedings ended, Heard confirmed that she would be lodging an appeal, and has switched up her team in preparation for filing it.
The Justice League actress has hired Ballard Spahr as her lead counsel, led by David L Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown – who made headlines recently when they successfully defended The New York Times against Sarah Palin’s defamation lawsuit.
The appeal was officially filed last month, but Bredehoft is not set to continue with the case as a press release shared today (15 August) explained Heard has hired a new appellate counsel.
Heard, 36, hired First Amendment attorneys David Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown, who successfully represented the New York Times against a libel lawsuit brought by Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee.
David L. Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown of Ballard Spahr will be taking on the case after Bredehoft’s departure, with the pair having previously successfully defended The New York Times against Sarah Palin’s defamation lawsuit earlier this year.
When Heard’s legal team filed the appeal, a spokesperson for Heard told The Los Angeles Times: “We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the 1st Amendment. We are therefore appealing the verdict. While we realize today’s filing will ignite the Twitter bonfires, there are steps we need to take to ensure both fairness and justice.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Depp argued: “The jury listened to the extensive evidence presented during the six-week trial and came to a clear and unanimous verdict that the defendant herself defamed Mr. Depp, in multiple instances. We remain confident in our case and that this verdict will stand.”
The appeal comes after Heard requested a mistrial in the defamation case, claiming one of the jurors was incorrectly seated, however a judge rejected the request last month.
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