Johnny Depp’s $50m defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard

[chatterweb]

Apr 29, 2022 22:17:05 GMT czb said:

agree with that.

but everyone and their dog is weighing in on this trial. and most of what i see is very pro-johnny. i agree with HS that JD is def putting on a performance. his charm could sway the trial. he comes across as a very likeable person. not sure who AH will perform.

Tried to quote and rep you but I am not familiar with this forum, Sorry

Everyone and Their Dog is weighing in on this trial LOL  so true 

[no1novice]

Given that conservative % rates of DV are 1 in 3 or 4 (women)/1 in 9 (men) - that is a whole lot of the populous that has experience of similar situations. Unless they are in Oklahoma then it’s closer to 50% for women.
These incidents got worse during covid - you can understand that a lot of people have an opinion.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 for confidential support.

Even psychologists are contributing:-

Experts question the phrase 'mutual abuse' after testimony in Depp-Heard trial
The phrases "mutual abuse" and "reactive abuse" fail to account for the power dynamic in abusive relationships, some experts say.

The phrase "mutual abuse" has circulated online after a clinical psychologist used it during the defamation trial involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. It's a divisive concept, domestic violence experts say.

Laurel Anderson, a clinical psychologist and the couple's marriage counselor, described their dynamic as one of "mutual abuse," testifying that Depp told her that Heard "gave as good as she got."

“It was a point of pride to her, if she felt disrespected, to initiate a fight ... her father had beaten her,” Anderson said.

Heard would rather be in a fight with Depp than see him leave, and she “would strike him to keep him there,” Anderson said in court. During cross-examination, Anderson clarified that Heard reported to the therapist that she “fought back” after Depp became physical.
In court filings, Heard said she hit Depp only in self-defense or in defense of her younger sister, according to The New York Times.

Since Anderson's testimony, the phrase "mutual abuse" has become a point of contention in discussions online. Some have described Depp and Heard's relationship dynamic as "reactive abuse," a similarly divisive term to describe a victim's emotional outburst against an abuser.

Ruth Glenn, president and CEO of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), disputes the existence of "mutual abuse." In every incident between two people, she said, there's a "primary aggressor."

"I don't believe in mutual abuse. I don't believe that two parties decide to meet in the kitchen and box it out," Glenn said. "It just doesn't sound right, reactive abuse. I'm going to abuse you as a reaction? No, I'm going to defend myself as a reaction."
Glenn added that self-defense against a primary aggressor can "look like abuse," but it's a not the same as an abuser exerting control over a victim.

Reacting to abuse in self-defense can include name-calling, physically pushing back, and other emotional outbursts, according to psychologist Betsy Usher, who specializes in treating abuse and trauma. In a 2021 blog post, Usher wrote that abusers may shift the blame to their victims and accuse them of being the abuser if they react in self-defense.

Janie Lacy, a licensed psychotherapist specializing in relationship trauma, said extremely volatile relationships may be described as "mutual abuse," and that in many cases, this dynamic stems from trauma. Lacy uses the term "trauma bond" to describe the "toxic emotional attachments" sometimes embodied in intense relationships.
When a victim is caught in a cycle of abuse and affection, they may develop a trauma bond to their abuser, experts say. The alternating violence and kindness reinforces a victim’s attachment to their abuser, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and can enable escalating abusive behavior.

"People can't necessarily leave them, but they can't stay, either," Lacy said. "When they have these 'come here' and 'go away' dynamics, it becomes this very exploitative relationship. ... And there's this constant shifting of power and these types of dynamics."

[dksnj]

Amber Heard fires PR team days before she’s set to testify after torrent of ‘bad headlines’
By Elizabeth Rosner and
Ben Kesslen
May 1, 2022 4:27pm Updated


Amber Heard is so upset over the coverage she’s been getting in her court battle with Johnny Depp that she abruptly switched to a new PR team ahead of her highly anticipated testimony this week, The Post has learned.

The “Aquaman” actress ditched crisis PR firm Precision Strategies on Thursday after getting frustrated with the press she’s received since her bombshell defamation trial kicked off last month, sources said.

“She doesn’t like bad headlines,” a source noted.

Another source said Heard, 36, is “frustrated with her story not being told effectively.”

Depp, 58, is suing Heard for $50 million, claiming his ex-wife defamed him in a 2018 op-ed in the Washington Post where she discussed being a victim of domestic violence.

Heard’s lawyers argue that Depp abused the actress physically and sexually.

The actress — who is expected to take the stand in Fairfax, Va., as soon as Tuesday — now has consulting firm Shane Communications on retainer to help her get across her side better in the court of public opinion, sources said.


The sudden PR switch came after several brutal days of court testimony from Depp witnesses and a fiery social-media mob that turned against Heard.

Her new PR team, led by CEO David Shane, has worked against Depp before.

The firm helped highlight allegations lodged by Depp’s former business managers, The Management Group, alleging that the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star needed to hire a shrink for his “compulsive spending” habit of $2 million per month.

Still, communications experts told The Post that Heard’s new flacks have an uphill battle ahead of them.

“After years of narrative building, you can’t change the public’s opinion in the three weeks when someone is suing you in a case,” said a crisis management PR insider.

Ex-Pete Buttigieg campaign maven Lis Smith said, “It’s crazy to change teams in the middle of a trial like this because you don’t like the headlines.”

She said Heard’s former PR firm, Precision Strategies, which was co-founded by ex-Obama adviser and deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter, is “one of the best crisis firms” — “but they can’t rewrite the history of what’s happened.”

The actress never wanted cameras in the courtroom in the first place, but Depp’s team won the fight to have the entirety of the trial testimony livestreamed, meaning neither team could cherry-pick what information made its way out of the courtroom.

To date, the trial has featured photos of feces, severed digits and melted ice cream — as well as a discussion about Depp’s penis.

Interest in the sensational case has led to the courthouse in Virginia turning into a circus, with scores of Depp fans — some of whom have traveled from as far as Australia — packing the gallery.

Precision Strategies, Shane Communications and reps for Depp declined to comment to The Post on Heard’s PR switch.

The actor was not named in the Washington Post essay at the center of the Virginia trial, but he claims it clearly referenced him and ruined his career, damaged his reputation and cost him tens of millions of dollars.

Depp, who has denied the abuse allegations, told the jury he brought the suit to clear his name.

Heard’s lawyers claim that his denials are not credible because he was often too drunk or high to recall what happened.

Depp lost a similar lawsuit in the UK against the Sun over an article that called him a “wife beater.”

The pair met on the set of the 2011 flick “The Rum Diary’’ and wed in 2016 before divorcing the next year.

[notoriousmkg]

How in the world does a freaking civil case get live streamed when one of the parties was against it? There is literally no compelling public stake in the outcome.

DailyMail keeps publishing some count on how many people have signed on to a petition to have Heard removed entirely from the Aquaman sequel. As if 90% of the signatures aren't completely bogus....

[lalasnake]

Apr 21, 2022 20:23:35 GMT no1novice said:

So we had a witness today say that immediately before JD trashed AH's closet, she had thrown a red bull at his back & spit on him. After JD trashed AH's closet, his bodyguard got between them, & AH reached over JD to (successfully) punch him. The bodyguard admitted that JD & AH were mutually verbally abusive, but he never saw JD ever get physical with AH.

[no1novice]

His lawyer’s witness. Her former nurse.
Not sure I would give permission for any of my medical professionals to give evidence for my ex!

Amber Heard's personal nurse took the stand Tuesday as Johnny Depp's team rested its case.

The court heard from Erin Falati, also known as Erin Boerum, the former nurse of Amber Heard who appeared by video deposition.

Under questioning from one of Depp's lawyers, she walked through her notes of her treatment of Heard, starting with their first meeting in August 2014.

The notes state that Heard 'reports history of substance abuse including an addiction to cocaine and liquor.'

'Heard does not smoke but reports she drinks '1-3 glasses of red wine a day,' the notes state.

The notes state: 'Familial history of substance abuse, both mother and father have abused and become dependent on stimulants.

'Client admits to a history of anxiety, eating disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, bipolar disorder, codependence issues and occasional insomnia.

'Client identifies as bisexual, and was married to a female partner prior to current relationship.'



Another note from December 17, 2015 revealed Falati's observations about Heard at her Los Angeles penthouse following a fight with Depp.

The notes state that she 'had visible bright red blood appearing at center of lower lip' and that it was 'actively bleeding.'

The medical notes stated: 'Heard stated it was from injury sustained in an argument between her and her husband.

'States her head is bruised and she has lost clumps of hair in the altercation.'

[trixie]

I've been watching off and on this afternoon. Amber's first witness is the forensic psychologist who examined her. She has pretty impressive credentials (yes she is board certified unlike Dr. Curry) and she is basically refuting everything. Apparently there are lots of mentions of the physical abuse in the treatment notes from the drs. who treated Amber. Funny none of that was mentioned in the prosecution's case. This is going to come down to he said-she said like it has been all along,

[czb]

^^^ am not surprised.

[trixie]

Yeah, who knows how the defense will go and how much the jury will be star-struck. I'm sure Amber won't have a stream of people testifying on her behalf like Depp. But I hope the jury takes into consideration that probably 90% of those witnesses are EMPLOYEES of Depp so what do you think they're gonna say when asked to testify for the man who signs their paychecks? (ok his money managers probably sign them but still)

I also have to say that Depp sure hasn't acted like the broken man he portrays himself to be. Laughing and joking on the stand and with his attorneys, it's like a big game to him IMO. He really seems to think he has this in the bag. I hope not. And I don't even like Amber. But I'm starting to dislike him more.

[dksnj]

We have doctors on both sides saying it was mutual combat.

We have Amber admitting on tape to hitting Johnny and she claiming Johnny hit her as well.
We have Johnny claiming he never laid a hand on her and claiming Amber was the abuser.

Let's, for the sake of argument, say they've both hit each other.

I'm curious what everyone would think (if everything above was true) if the roles were reversed...if Johnny did the OPED piece stating he was a victim of domestic violence, while never admitting to also being an abuser himself.

Hope that makes sense, I've had a bit of wine

[no1novice]

May 3, 2022 23:07:15 GMT dksnj said:

We have doctors on both sides saying it was mutual combat.

We have Amber admitting on tape to hitting Johnny and she claiming Johnny hit her as well.
We have Johnny claiming he never laid a hand on her and claiming Amber was the abuser.

Let's, for the sake of argument, say they've both hit each other.

I'm curious what everyone would think (if everything above was true) if the roles were reversed...if Johnny did the OPED piece stating he was a victim of domestic violence, while never admitting to also being an abuser himself.

Hope that makes sense, I've had a bit of wine

If he was one of the 1 in 9 then I would say.
However “Depp is accused of taking between eight and ten ecstasy tablets, ripping off Heard’s nightgown, dragging her across the floor, and punching and kicking her.
Then he penetrates her with a liquor bottle”

Hes not the “victim” here.

Also “mutual abuse” is bogus if you listen to actual, respected psychologists; not just “expert witnesses” off JD’s shopping list. 
Ruth Glenn, president and CEO of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), disputes the existence of "mutual abuse." In every incident between two people, she said, there's a "primary aggressor."
”Reacting to abuse in self-defense can include name-calling, physically pushing back, and other emotional outbursts, according to psychologist Betsy Usher, who specializes in treating abuse and trauma. In a 2021 blog post, Usher wrote that abusers may shift the blame to their victims and accuse them of being the abuser if they react in self-defense.

[no1novice]

TRIGGER WARNING!!!

'He thought it was acceptable to stick his fingers up Amber's vagina looking for cocaine.' Forensic psychologist testifies Johnny Depp was 'obsessively jealous' and if he was not able to perform would 'get more angry and blame her'
Amber Heard's first witness was Dr. Dawn Hughes, a New York-based clinical and forensic psychologist who is an expert about domestic violence
Heard appeared to choke up as Dr. Hughes explained why women stay in violent relationships
Dr. Hughes said, 'The most dangerous time for a woman is when she's leaving - her likelihood of being killed increases substantially. Staying keeps her safe'
Dr. Hughes said that women in abusive relationships get into them for the right reasons but slowly their partner turns
She outlined instances where she claims Heard told her about sexual violence committed on her by Depp
Dr. Hughes said that the physical violence suffered by Heard including Depp pushing her, shoving her, choking her and kicking her in the back
This came after Heard 's lawyers made a last-ditch effort to have the case dismissed, only for the judge to deny their request


Amber Heard appeared close to tears several times as her team's first witness testified.

Heard's first witness was Dr. Dawn Hughes, a New York-based clinical and forensic psychologist who is an expert about domestic violence.

Dr. Hughes said that women in abusive relationships get into them for the right reasons but slowly their partner turns.


Dr. Hughes outlined horrifying instances where she claims Heard told her about sexual violence committed on her by Depp.

Dr. Hughes said that when Depp 'was drunk or high he threw her (Heard) on the bed, ripped off her nightgown and tried to have sex with her.'

She said: 'He forced her to give him oral sex when he was angry. These weren't loving moments, these were dominant moments.'

On another occasion when Depp accused a woman of hitting on Heard he 'performed a cavity search,' Dr. Hughes said.

She said that 'he was looking for drugs,' adding that Depp thought it was 'acceptable to rip off her nightgown and stick his fingers up her vagina looking for cocaine.'

Another time Depp put his fingers in Heard's vagina and 'moved her around violently' while they were in the closet.

The incident in Australia, where Depp's fingertip was severed during an argument with Heard, was 'one of the most severe.'

Dr. Hughes said: 'When he was beating her and chocking her, saying I hate you I will f**king kill you, Miss Heard was dissociating and going outside of her body. The only thing she's thinking is: 'Oh God I hope it's not the broken one.'

Dr. Hughes said that during 'alcohol fueled' incidents where Depp threw Heard on a bed and tried to have sex with her, it didn't always work out.

She said: 'If he was not able to perform he would get more angry at her and blame her.'

As Dr. Hughes said this Heard appeared to struggle to contain her emotions.

[MsDark]

Gawd the shit those bodyguards and doctor and nurse(s?) probably had to deal with! I hope they were getting paid well.

Fuck these two.

I wanna know what happened to Pistol and Boo? Will no one think of the children?

[greysfang]

May 3, 2022 23:07:15 GMT dksnj said:

We have doctors on both sides saying it was mutual combat.

We have Amber admitting on tape to hitting Johnny and she claiming Johnny hit her as well.
We have Johnny claiming he never laid a hand on her and claiming Amber was the abuser.

Let's, for the sake of argument, say they've both hit each other.

I'm curious what everyone would think (if everything above was true) if the roles were reversed...if Johnny did the OPED piece stating he was a victim of domestic violence, while never admitting to also being an abuser himself.

Hope that makes sense, I've had a bit of wine

I can't stand it, so I gave you an avatar.

[dksnj]

May 4, 2022 18:36:34 GMT greysfang said:

May 3, 2022 23:07:15 GMT dksnj said:

We have doctors on both sides saying it was mutual combat.

We have Amber admitting on tape to hitting Johnny and she claiming Johnny hit her as well.
We have Johnny claiming he never laid a hand on her and claiming Amber was the abuser.

Let's, for the sake of argument, say they've both hit each other.

I'm curious what everyone would think (if everything above was true) if the roles were reversed...if Johnny did the OPED piece stating he was a victim of domestic violence, while never admitting to also being an abuser himself.

Hope that makes sense, I've had a bit of wine

I can't stand it, so I gave you an avatar.

Thank you! I kept meaning to upload an avatar