Following the recent libel trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp, Amber Heard is building a new legal team as she prepares to appeal the verdict.
Johnny Depp emerged victorious in the latest defamation lawsuit, receiving more than $10 million in damages for statements found to be libelous in an op-ed written by Amber Heard for The Washington Post. Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages following a statement previously made by one of Depp’s attorneys.
After the trial, Amber Heard had made clear her intentions to challenge the verdict. Reports have now emerged she has recruited new lawyers as she prepares for the next round of legal wrangling.
Amber Heard’s former lawyer, Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, will step down as Aquaman The actress is appealing the defamation verdict.
Amber Heard’s former team will be replaced by Ballard Spahr attorneys David L. Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown, who will lead her appeal. Ben Rottenborn will continue in his role as co-lawyer for Heard. Axelrod and Brown previously successfully defended The New York Times against a libel suit from Sarah Palin.
Speaking of taking on Amber Heard’s case, the two attorneys released a joint statement:
“We welcome the opportunity to represent Ms. Heard in this appeal because this is a case with significant First Amendment implications for every American. We are confident that the appeals court will properly apply the law without deference to popularity, overturn the judgment against Ms. Heard and reaffirm the fundamental principles of freedom of expression.
A spokesperson for Amber Heard said in a statement that a “different court warrants different representation, especially as so much new evidence is now coming to light.”
Meanwhile, Heard’s former lawyer, Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, called it “an ideal time to hand over” and pledged her “full cooperation and assistance” to Heard’s new legal team.
Stay tuned for all the latest news regarding the aftermath of the Amber Heard and Johnny Depp case, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content.
Source: People
