Amber Heard launches bid to overturn result of US libel battle with Johnny Depp

A mber Heard is bidding to overturn the verdict of her US legal battle with Johnny Depp after a jury found she had libeled her ex-husband in an article on domestic abuse.

The Aquaman actress, 36, currently owes Depp more than $8 million in damages after she was found liable for three claims of defamation at the end of a blockbuster two-month trial.

Her legal team has now filed a 43-page motion with the court in Virginia, arguing the verdict was flawed and questioning the validity of the jury which heard the case.

Heard’s team argued Depp had “proceeded solely on a defamation by implication theory, abandoning any claims that Ms Heard’s statements were actually false”.

The case centred on a 2018 Washington Post op-ed by Heard, in which she described herself as a victim of domestic and sexual abuse without specifically naming Depp.

Johnny Depp testifies at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Her lawyers suggested Depp, 59, was awarded excessive damages after failing in the trial to limit his arguments about the extent of the alleged damage to his career.

“Mr Depp continued to urge the jury to restore his reputation and legacy to his children as a result of Ms Heard accusing Mr Depp in May 2016 of domestic violence,” they said.

And in a challenge to the validity of the trial itself, Heard’s team highlighted a discrepancy in the date of birth of Juror 15.

“He was clearly born later than 1945. Publicly available information demonstrates that he appears to have been born in 1970,” the court filing states.

“This discrepancy raises the question whether Juror 15 actually received a summons for jury duty and was properly vetted by the court to serve on the jury.”

In response to the bid for the verdict to be quashed and the case retried, Depp’s lawyer Ben Chew said the filing was “what we expected, just longer, no more substantive”.

Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation lawsuit in Virginia (2022) 1 /45 Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation lawsuit in Virginia (2022) AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images Fairfax County Court . POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Fairfax County Court Fairfax County Court Amber Heard was tearful in court (Elizabeth Frantz/AP) AP Actor Johnny Depp walks during his defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on April 27, 2022. POOL/AFP via Getty Images Actor Johnny Depp greets his legal team as he arrives in the courtroom AP Actor Amber Heard speaks to a member of her legal team after a recess amid her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against her POOL/AFP via Getty Images Actor Amber Heard appears in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Va., Thursday, April 28, 2022. AP Amber Heard took to the stand on Wednesday REUTERS Johnny Depp demonstrates what he claims was an alleged attack by his ex-wife Amber Heard as he testifies during his defamation trial against Heard, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse POOL/AFP via Getty Images Amber Heard speaks with her legal team in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Amber Heard filming Johnny Depp smashing kitchen cupboards Handout Amber Heard looks on at the end of the second day of her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s testimony during his defamation trial against her, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse POOL/AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp is seen laying in a hospital after his finger was injured while he and his ex-wife Amber Heard were in Australia in March 2015, in this evidence photograph that was displayed as Depp testified during his defamation trial against Heard at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse REUTERS Johnny Depp testifies at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Amber Heard arrives in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Amber Heard attends her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against her, as a picture of an injury to his face is seen on a screen, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse REUTERS A knife with an inscription “from Amber Heard to Johnny Depp” on the blade is seen during Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse POOL/AFP via Getty Images Evidence appears on a monitor in the courtroom during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court REUTERS Amber Heard listens in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Evidence appears on a monitor in the courtroom during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court REUTERS Amber Heard is embraced as she arrives at the start of the day during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court REUTERS Johnny Depp demonstrates how he claims he shielded himself from an alleged attack by his ex-wife Amber Heard as he testifies during his defamation trial against Heard POOL/AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp displays the middle finger of his hand, injured while he and his ex-wife Amber Heard were in Australia in 2015 AP Johnny Depp holds up his bandaged finger, injured while he and his ex-wife Amber Heard were in Australia in March 2015, in this evidence photograph that was displayed as Depp testified during his defamation trial against Heard at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse REUTERS

In the jury’s verdict, Heard was ordered to pay $10.35 million in damages to Depp, while the Pirates of the Caribbean actor was also found to have libelled his ex-wife and must pay her $2 million.

Heard is reportedly unable to pay the $8.35 million balance in damages, but must post $10.35 million as a bond with the court while the appeal is pending.