Johnny Depp's Lawyers Reflect on Defamation Trial Strategy

Attorneys reveal concerns about Depp's temper and the role of humor during his cross-examination in the 2022 trial against Amber Heard.

Johnny Depp's lawyers, Benjamin Chew and Jessica Meyers, expressed concerns about the actor potentially losing his temper during cross-examination in the 2022 defamation trial against Amber Heard.
The legal team aimed to humanize Depp before the jury, emphasizing his humor to counter serious arguments from Heard's counsel.
The jury found that Heard's claims of domestic abuse were false and made with malice, awarding Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, later reduced to $1 million in a settlement.
Heard, who was awarded $2 million in her countersuit, criticized the trial’s televised nature and the influence of social media on public perception and the outcome.
Depp described the verdict as a personal victory, stating it gave him his life back, while Heard called the outcome a setback for addressing violence against women.