Johnny Depp’s legal team rested its case in the actor’s defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard on Tuesday.
After 13 days of testimony, much of it by Depp and others detailing his contentious relationship with Heard, Depp’s attorneys hammered home the idea that Heard had damaged Depp’s career and reputation.
Depp sued Heard over a 2018 Washington Post article in which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
The trial is being held in Fairfax County, Virginia, because the Washington Post’s online servers are in that county.
Depp, 58, is suing for $50 million, which is a portion of what he and some of his expert witnesses has claimed Heard’s article has cost him — including $22 million for a sixth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie.
Forensic accountant Mike Spindler testified Depp has lost about $40 million since the article’s publication.
Heard is countersuing for $100 million.
Heard, 36, has accused Depp of physical and sexual abuse. The actor has denied the allegations and testified that she was frequently violent with him.
After Depp’s attorneys rested their case, Heard’s counsel asked federal Judge Penny Azcarate to dismiss, arguing that Depp had not proven he had lost money and suffered a hit to his reputation. However, before adjourning for lunch, Judge Azcarate ruled that the trial could continue.
Heard is expected to begin presenting her case after the break and to take the stand as soon as Wednesday.
Among the first witnesses for Heard will be psychologist Dawn Hughes, an expert in abusive relationships who recently testified in criminal trials against R. Kelly and Nxivm cult founder Keith Raniere, both of whom were later convicted.
Earlier in the day’s proceedings, a former nurse of Heard’s, testifying in a prerecorded deposition presented by Depp’s attorneys, detailed Heard’ history mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD and co-dependency.
She also said she was unable to determine if photos of Heard’s discolored face were photos of bruises, but did say she once say Heard with a bloody lip, which the actress said was from a fight with Depp.
“I have a generalized memory of there being … jealous and anxiety issues, including mistrust within the relationship,” Erin Falati said.
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