Amber Heard says that Johnny Depp's US defamation lawsuit should be thrown out after 'wife-beater' ruling in the UK. She says that the UK trial established that: "Mr Depp committed domestic violence against Ms Heard on many occasions, causing her to fear for her life".
Depp famously lost his slander case against NGN newsgroup and the Sun tabloid, who labeled him as a “wife beater.” He was also denied the chance to file an appeal to overturn the ruling. That, Heard insists, is grounds to dismiss his $50 million defamation suit against her.
It continued: "Depp cannot relitigate these factual issues, and as a result of their preclusion, he cannot claim that the statements are false and 'actionable' under Virginia defamation law, so his claims are barred as a matter of law."
The filing from the Aquaman actress's team of lawyers adds: "Therefore, as a matter of law, Depp cannot prevail on any of his claims, and Depp's complaint against Ms Heard should be dismissed in its entirety."
Heard has requested a hearing next month in front of a judge in an effort to put a stop to the lawsuit. Again. This marks perhaps half a dozen attempts on Heard’s part to have Depp’s slander case against her dismissed. All previous attempts have been denied, and this one likely will be, too.
The Sun case wasn’t between Depp and Heard, remember. It was against Depp and the Sun. Heard was just a witness. And “Just because the Sun says so” isn’t a good enough reason to throw out a lawsuit.
Depp’s legal team haven’t yet responded to Heard’s latest filing, but it’s unlikely that her request to have his suit thrown out will succeed.
The case is due to be heard in Fairfax, VA in April of 2022.