Watch live as Johnny Depp’s defamation case against Amber Heard continues
Johnny Depp’s legal team has rested their case in Amber Heard’s defamation trial, now in its fourth week in court in Fairfax, Virginia.
Heard is being sued by Depp for $50m (£38.2m) for implying he abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed. Although she did not name him, he claims her allegations made it difficult for him to land movie roles.
This week Depp’s agent described his career leading up to and following the publication of the op-ed, calling it “catastrophic”. He said Depp lost his role in the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, and he was unable to sign any studio productions in the years after.
An expert witness testified the actor potentially lost a total of $40m in earnings.
Further testimony was given by a nurse employed by Heard who said she was prone to outbursts of rage and described apparent injuries to her after the couple had allegedly fought.
Heard is expected to testify on Wednesday and provide her own account of the relationship. The first witness her team will call is a psychologist who is expected to refute diagnoses of personality disorders heard earlier in the trial.
Heard team argues for dismissal of case
Court resumes with Heard’s legal team arguing for the case to be dismissed.
As a reminder, here’s what Depp has to prove:
Oliver O’Connell3 May 2022 16:49
Depp lost $40m after publication of Amber Heard op-ed, forensic accountant says as actor rests case
Johnny Depp lost $40m after the publication of Amber Heard’s op-ed, a forensic accountant testified shortly before Mr Depp’s legal team rested their case.
Oliver O’Connell3 May 2022 16:42
Depp team rests case against Heard
Johnny Depp’s legal team rests case and Judge Penney Azcarate call for the morning recess until 11.45am.
Oliver O’Connell3 May 2022 16:31
Oliver O’Connell3 May 2022 16:28
Cross-examination by Heard’s attorney establishes that Mr Spindler has worked with Depp before and that he has not brought into consideration the other factors that may be at play in the actor’s bookings — for example The Sun article and lawsuit, Depp’s reputation, and diminishing returns for his franchise movies.
Oliver O’Connell3 May 2022 16:16
Mr Spindler was asked to take a look at lost earnings for Depp.
He says he investigated accounting records, trial exhibits, depositions, trial testimony, and various other documents after 18 December 2018 when the op-ed was published.
He concluded that Depp suffered lost earnings of $40m, including $22.5m for Pirates 6 (less agent commission). Mr Spindler also looked at other factors including endorsements and other projects Depp was hired for.
Depp earned $17.5m in 2017, which was used as a base year for the analysis.
Oliver O’Connell3 May 2022 16:09
New witness: Michael Spindler, CPA
The Depp team calls a new witness, Michael Spindler, a forensic accountant.
Asked what his job entails, Mr Spindler explains: “It’s essentially taking a look at business records and accounting records in connection to some sort of business issue,.”
Oliver O’Connell3 May 2022 15:58
After Ms Falati confirms that Heard received surgery for a cyst on her eye, questioning briefly switches to those from Heard’s attorney.
Again displayed are the photos Heard sent to Ms Falati the evening of 21 May 2026 showing her with a reddening on her face. This was between 9pm and 10pm the night that Depp went to the penthouse, and around the time the LAPD officers responded to the 911 call.
Judge Azcarate has a brief discussion with lawyers before moving on to the next witness.
Oliver O’Connell3 May 2022 15:56
Returning to her notes for 17 December 2015, Ms Falati is asked again (as she was by Heard’s lawyer) about Heard having blood on the centre of her lower lip and appearing dishevelled with a slumped posture.
In this incident, Heard said she had bruising and hair was torn out, though Ms Falati did not observe this and said she should see a doctor.
Oliver O’Connell3 May 2022 15:49
Asked about Thanksgiving 2015, Ms Falati said she spent several hours with them at dinner in a “jovial” atmosphere.
Heard appeared happy and Depp was calm and coherent.
Oliver O’Connell3 May 2022 15:42
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