The legal chess match between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard continues with Depp’s legal dream team filing a counter-appeal on Friday, less than 24 hours after his ex-wife and “Aquaman” star filed her own appeal in Fairfax County, Virginia.
“Plaintiff and Counterclaim-Defendant John C. Depp, II, by counsel, hereby appeals to the Court of Appeals of Virginia from all adverse rulings and from the final judgment order of this Circuit Court entered on June 24, 2022,” the 4-page notice of appeal, published by Deadline, stated.
The Notice of Appeal is set to challenge the Virginia jury’s decision earlier this year to award 36-year-old Heard $2 million in damages based on public comments deemed to be defamatory made by Depp’s former attorney, Adam Waldman.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, on Thursday, lawyers for Heard formally notified the Virginia court of her appeal of the verdict in the lawsuit Depp filed alleging that she defamed him.
Depp, 59, came out favorably ahead after the 6-week televised trial, being awarded $15 million in damages, which was later reduced to $10.35 million because of Virginia’s statutory limit.
A source close to Depp commented to the LA Times that the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star wants both parties to move ahead with their lives and heal, “but if Ms. Heard is determined to pursue further litigation by appealing the verdict, Mr. Depp is filing a concurrent appeal to ensure that the full record and all relevant legal issues are considered by the Court of Appeal.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, Heard’s team made their intent to appeal known shortly after the verdict was announced. After filing paperwork with the court on Thursday, they acknowledged that it may once again “put a target on the actor’s back.”
Depp has spent much of his post-trial time performing concerts with his friend Jeff Beck. He also announced a 2023 tour with his band, Hollywood Vampires. Additionally, he’s been slated to play King Louis XV in the upcoming French flick, “La Favorite.”
The movie will stream on Netflix France after its theatrical run.
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Feature Photo: This combination of photos shows actor Johnny Depp testifying at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Va., on April 21, 2022, left, and actor Amber Heard testifying in the same courtroom on May 26, 2022. The judge in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial made a jury’s award official Friday with a written order for Heard to pay Depp $10.35 million for damaging his reputation by describing herself as a domestic abuse victim in an op-ed piece she wrote. (AP Photo)
