Amber Heard’s lawyers believe Johnny Depp is trying to avoid a deposition in his $50 million defamation case against his ex-wife by delaying their high-profile trial.
Johnny Depp filed defamation against Amber Heard in the U.S. after she wrote an article, accusing him of domestic violence, for the Washington Post in 2018. Although his name was never mentioned, it seemed to suggest he was “violent towards her,” which he had vehemently denied.
Requesting Depp to sit for a deposition
In the lawsuit, Depp’s lawyer claimed the article alluded Heard was a “domestic abuse victim” while her ex-husband was the abuser.
“[Heard’s] implication that Mr. Depp is a domestic abuser is categorically and demonstrably false,” they said, via Mirror Online.
The case is about to start a trial next year. However, the 34-year-old actress’ legal counsel has made an appeal to have Depp sit for a deposition.
Her team submitted legal papers to a Virginia court to ask a judge to force the actor to make an appearance. They said they have made “extensive efforts” to set a date with the 57-year-old star for his deposition to no avail.
Depp seems to be unavailable until he finishes filming his new movie, Fantastic Beasts 3, in February 2021.
“Defendant is forced to bring this motion after extensive efforts to obtain the deposition of Plaintiff [Depp],” the paper read.
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The Notice of Deposition
Heard’s side claimed they had provided a two-month Notice of Deposition to Depp.
They were asking for his locations and available dates before his movie’s production began to know his “exact filming schedule.”
However, the only answer they got was that he would not be available for deposition until the filming of his movie is completed.
Heard’s legal group continued Depp seemed to use Warner Bros.’s letter from its associate counsel that he needed to stay in the U.K. from Sept. 17 until the filming’s completion.
But, he seemed to defy the studio’s request when he attended film festivals in Europe, which each required quarantine periods.
“Yet Mr Depp is also refusing to return to the U.S., where there is no quarantine requirement,” they said.
So, Heard and her lawyers want the case to get dismissed or have Depp showed up for three consecutive days.
They ask Depp to appear “in counsel for Defendant’s offices in Virginia on or before Oct. 30, 2020,” Deadline noted. It will happen on the times and dates “agreeable to counsel for Defendant.”
A judge is set to rule the request at Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia on Oct. 9.
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