Amber Heard ‘accuses Johnny Depp of dodging deposition’ in $50m defamation case

Amber Heard 's lawyers have accused Johnny Depp of avoiding a deposition in his $50 million (£29m) defamation case against the actress.

Depp is suing his ex-wife in the US for defamation over an article she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018.

Depp is not mentioned by name in the piece, but he contends the story implies he was violent towards her - a claim he strenuously denies.

In paperwork filed as part of the lawsuit, Depp's lawyers state: "The op-ed depended on the central premise that Ms. Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr. Depp perpetrated domestic violence against her.

"[Heard’s] implication that Mr. Depp is a domestic abuser is categorically and demonstrably false."

The defamation case is due to go to trial next year, but Heard's legal team have now asked a judge to force Depp to sit for a deposition after failing to pin him down.

In legal papers submitted to a court in Virgina - the state where the Washington Post is published - Heard's team claim they've made "extensive efforts" to confirm a date with Depp for his deposition.

However, they suggest Depp is not going to make himself available until after he finishes filming his new Fantastic Beasts movie in February 2021.

In the papers, Heard's team states: "Defendant is forced to bring this motion after extensive efforts to obtain the deposition of Plaintiff [Depp]...

"Even after providing a two-month Notice of Deposition, asking for locations and dates for Mr. Depp prior to his filming, seeking discovery to ascertain Mr. Depp’s exact filming schedule, and finally being told that the Plaintiff in this action, suing Defendant for $50 million...

"Will not make himself available for deposition until the filming of Fantastic Beasts is complete, sometime late February 2021, or possibly later."

The papers add: "Mr Depp relies on a letter from a Warner Bros. associate counsel claiming Mr Depp is needed from September 17 through the competition of filming, to remain in the UK.

"Meanwhile disproving the veracity of the letter, Mr Depp is traveling around Europe and attending film festivals, each of which includes quarantine periods.

"Yet Mr Depp is also refusing to return to the US, where there is no quarantine requirement."

Heard's lawyers are asking for the case to be dismissed or for an assurance that Depp shows up "for three successive days in counsel for Defendant’s offices in Virginia on or before October 30, 2020 on dates and times agreeable to counsel for Defendant".

A judge is expected to rule on the request during a hearing at Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia on October 9.

The trial had originally been due to take place in early 2020 but Depp's team was granted a delay pushing it back until May 2021 to allow for him to complete filming on the Fantastic Beasts sequel.

Heard has filed a $100 million (£78 million) counterclaim against her ex, accusing him of using trolls and fake social media accounts in a “smear campaign” to ruin her life.

She also alleged the defamation suit is part of his "abuse and harassment" of her.

The papers, filed in the US earlier this month, state: "This stream of false and defamatory accusations against Ms. Heard is all an attempt to ruin her life and career, simply because she was a victim of domestic abuse and violence at the hands of Mr. Depp, and had the audacity and temerity to finally come forward to end [it].

"Through this Counterclaim, Ms. heard is finally, after all these years, fighting back."

Depp's attorney, Adam Waldman, responded to the smear campaign accusations saying: "The people demand facts and evidence, not nonsense".

Depp has denied being abusive or violent towards Heard.

The defamation trial is separate to the libel proceedings brought by Depp against News Group Newspapers in the UK over an article in The Sun which branded him a "wife-beater" - claim he denied.

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