A source close to Depp’s side said that he had a number of legal paths available to him, but declined to speculate on why he chose to sue for defamation, rather than for breaching the settlement.
have taken turns revealing every detail of their four-year relationship, including serious allegations of bloody violence and sexual assault, as well as merely lurid accounts of screaming fights, promiscuous drug use, and bowel movements. Heard will retake the stand on Monday as she seeks to persuade the jury that Depp physically abused her. The trial will last until early June.
In the agreement, Depp and Heard promised not to make any “derogatory, disparaging, critical or accusatory statements, either directly or indirectly, express or implied” about each other.Dec. 18, 2018 op-ed in the Washington Post , noted that Depp would be able to recover a higher damages award for defamation than for breach of the contract. Depp is seeking $50 million — claiming that he lost out on a sixth “Pirates of the Caribbean” film because of the op-ed. Berlik also suggested that the op-ed might have been vague enough so as not to breach the agreement.
Heard’s side declined to comment for this story. But her lawyers have stressed during the trial that she relied on legal advice when she published the op-ed. That advice would have involved considerations of both defamation and breach of the settlement agreement, and she would have been prepared to defend herself either way.
But the non-disparagement language is quite broad, covering even “implied” negative statements. By situating her experience in the context of the #MeToo movement, Heard arguably would have been accusing Depp all over again. A Virginia judge, Bruce White, ruled in 2020 that the op-ed implied a potentially defamatory meaning — namely, that Depp abused Heard — even though it did not explicitly say that, and it’s possible to imagine an arbitrator reaching the same conclusion in a claim for breach.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mutual Abuse and the Depp/Heard TrialGender stereotypes still complicate our understanding of domestic violence, with violence done by women often getting dismissed. This helps neither women nor men, writes CJFerguson1111
Read more »
'We’re on Team Johnny Depp': Joe Rogan’s advice for Disney’s slumping stocksPodcast host JoeRogan suggested that the Walt Disney Company could reverse its slump stocks if it were to bring back Johnny Depp to his role of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Read more »
Johnny Depp Trial: Amber Heard's reference to Kate Moss may 'blow up in her face,' expert saysAmber Heard's surprise reference to Kate Moss on the stand last week, which prompted Johnny Depp's lawyers to erupt in glee, may spectacularly backfire, sources and experts told Fox News Digital.
Read more »
Johnny Depp Trial: Amber Heard's reference to Kate Moss may 'blow up in her face,' expert saysAmber Heard's surprise reference to Kate Moss on the stand last week, which prompted Johnny Depp's lawyers to erupt in glee, may spectacularly backfire, sources and experts told Fox News Digital.
Read more »
Here’s How Elon Feels About the ‘Negativity’ in Ex Amber & Johnny’s ‘Court Battle’ After Rumors She Cheated With HimPeople have begun speculating on whether or not Elon will be asked to testify during the trial.
Read more »
Which Women Do We Choose to Believe?Here is a woman recounting, in agonizing detail, how an extremely famous man allegedly abused her. Why, in 2022, do so many people seem to hate her for it?
Read more »