The turbulent trial between Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard has taken a dramatic turn after the Aquaman star allegedly attempted to have their case dismissed.
Just hours before the actress was set to take the stand during the final leg of their public defamation case, the 35-year-old’s legal team applied to have the entire lawsuit thrown out at the Fairfax Courthouse in the heart of Virginia.
Her attorney Ben Rottenborn argued that Heard’s ex-husband, 58, had not met his burden of proof after the Hollywood star’s lawyers rested their three-week case before the jury.
However, Judge Penney Azcarate denied the motion to strike in regards to two statements – though she has kept one under advisement.
The dad-of-two is currently suing his ex-wife of two years over her controversial article that she published in The Washington Post which discuses domestic violence, although she did not name her ex-husband.
(Image: Getty)
Johnny is demanding £38million in damages, saying her claims of domestic abuse have all but ended his acting career in addition to demolishing his reputation.
In response, Amber has filed a countersuit against him and is now seeking almost £78million in damages, alleging his legal team falsely accused her of fabricating claims against him.
Her counterclaim accuses her ex of orchestrating a “smear campaign” against her as she branded his lawsuit a continuation of “abuse and harassment.”
The Pirates of the Caribbean star’s final witness – who testified before the dramatic 11th-hour bid to have the entire case tossed – said the actor has lost up to £32million due to her Washington Post article in 2018.
Forensic accountant Michael Spindler told the jury how Johnny has lost the immense fortune due to Amber’s op-ed in which she alleged that she was the victim of domestic abuse.
The professional explained how he had analysed Depp’s accounting records, contracts and transcripts prior the release of the article and determined that he had earned £14million in 2017 which was a typical yearly income for the star.
(Image: Getty)
However, since the actor was axed from the sixth instalment of the Disney franchise, he lost £18million minus agent fees.
The accountant also testified that the doting dad had also lost out on other film roles and endorsements since the publication of his ex-wife’s article.
Next to testify in front of the court was the Marvel star’s private nurse, Erin Falati, who claimed the actress was high for 24 hours after taking mushrooms, ecstasy and drinking at the Coachella music festival back in April 2016.
While reading from her notes, the medic explained: “Client admits to illicit drug use during the trip, ingested mushrooms and MDMA simultaneously and also consumed alcohol and said she was high for 24 hours straight.”
(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Falati confirmed that she reminded Amber Heard that the medical staff would not tolerate illicit drug use, which could react adversely to the other medications she took.
She noted that: “Client laughed” and reported using “mushrooms and MDMA May 9th, 2016, at home with a high-profile acquaintance.
“Client reported that her husband was not aware of the make visitor or her illicit drug use.”
The medical professional’s pre-recorded deposition was played before the jurors on Tuesday (May 3) which she was then questioned about the entries.
The nurse revealed that she first met Amber back in 2014, where the actress told her of a previous history of substance abuse “including an addiction to cocaine and liquor” but added that she hadn’t used cocaine in years.
However, Falati said the actress told her that she typically drank between one and three glasses on wine a night, according to her notes.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
