Amber Heard has a whole NEW legal team for appeal against Johnny Depp, as she dumps Elaine Bredehoft
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA: In order to challenge the judgment issued in Johnny Depp's defamation case, Amber Heard has hired a new legal team. The actress hired David L Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown from the legal team of Ballard Spahr, according to a spokeswoman for the actress. Elaine Charlson Bredehoft will leave her position as co-counsel, while Ben Rottenborn will remain in the position. Heard was represented by Rottenborn and Bredehoft during the six-week trial in Virginia.
As per a report in ABC News, the spokeswoman for Heard said: "When it comes to protecting the fundamental right of Freedom of Speech, we look at the jury's decision — to paraphrase a famous quote — not 'as the beginning of the end, but merely the end of the beginning. A different court warrants different representation, particularly as so much new evidence is now coming to light." In high-stakes civil actions, Axelrod, a former federal prosecutor and a first-chair trial lawyer represents both individuals and businesses, while Brown has experience defending First Amendment rights on behalf of journalists, news organizations, and documentary filmmakers among others. Earlier this year, the two successfully defended The New York Times against Sarah Palin's defamation case.
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Axelrod and Brown said in a joint statement, "We welcome the opportunity to represent Ms. Heard in this appeal as it is a case with important First Amendment implications for every American. 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." Meanwhile, in her own statement, Bredehoft stated that the appeal is "the perfect time to pass the baton." She stated, "I have pledged to Amber and her appellate team my complete cooperation and assistance as they move forward on a path towards success.”
Heard's 2018 Washington Post op-ed, in which she described herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse, was found to have willfully and maliciously defamed Depp, according to a verdict reached by a jury of seven people in June. Depp received $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. The punitive awards were later reduced by the judge to the statutory maximum of $350,000 in Virginia. Meanwhile, Heard obtained a mere $2 million in compensatory damages from the countersuit. Heard's legal team submitted an appeal of the judgment last month following the denial of a motion for a verdict.
A representative for the actress stated, "We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First 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,” the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, according to The Independent, an official for Depp responded back saying, "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."