Amber Heard has filed a 68-page libel appeal against ex-husband, actor Johnny Depp. Deadline reports .
A month ago, Johnny Depp was the first to file a formal appeal against part of the verdict in the case.
Now the defense of the actress claims that the trial should not have happened at all. The document says the trial court erroneously refused to dismiss the lawsuit based on the conclusion that Depp's claims originated in Virginia because the Washington Post's servers are located there.
“This case should never have gone to trial because another court had already concluded that Depp repeatedly abused Heard. After Depp filed this case, the High Court of the United Kingdom ruled in a separate defamation suit filed by Depp that Heard's allegations of abuse were true."
According to The New York Times, Heard's lawyers argue that the trial took place in the wrong state. They also object to the judge's decision to exclude certain evidence from the case, including records from therapists of the time that seem to document allegations of abuse.
In June 2022, Depp won a lawsuit against Heard. The jury found her guilty of defamation in the case of protecting his honor and dignity and decided to pay Depp $15 million. The actor demanded $50 million for libel about violence, and Amber filed a counter-charge, demanding $100 million. As a result, the actress will pay her ex-husband $10 million in compensation and $5 million in punitive damages. The jury awarded Hurd $2 million in damages.
The trial in the case began in April and lasted six weeks, it caused a new round of discussion of the problem of domestic violence in American society. Depp filed a lawsuit against Heard because of an article in The Washington Post published in December 2018. From the text it followed that the actress was subjected to domestic violence. Depp denied these accusations, said that the text actually destroyed his reputation and career, and demanded compensation from his ex-wife.