Amber Heard Switches Legal Playbook in Quest to Dodge a $10‑Million Bill
Yesterday (Aug 15), the Aquaman star announced she’s ditching her long‑time lawyer Elaine Bredehoft in favor of a fresh, high‑profile squad headed by David L. Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown from Ballard Spahr. These two are gearing up to fight the verdict that slapped her ex‑husband Johnny Depp with a jaw‑dropping $10.35 million in damages.
Why the Switch?
- “A different court, new evidence,” Heard said, hinting the case’s geography and facts have shifted enough to call for a new team.
- Bredehoft, who shepherded her through the six‑week trial, is stepping down—while Ben Rottenborn from Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black stays on as co‑counsel.
- Bredehoft called the move “the perfect time to pass the baton” and promised full cooperation with the new legal gang.
The New Contingent
Axelrod and Ward Brown are no strangers to First Amendment turf. They famously backed The New York Times in a recent defamation fight against Sarah Palin, and they’re now ready to tackle the implications for American free speech in Heard’s case.
They’re Saying…
“We welcome the opportunity to represent Ms Heard in this appeal as it is a case with important First Amendment implications for every American.”
They’re confident the appellate court will “apply the law properly without deference to popularity,” reverse the judgment, and reaffirm that the freedom to speak is sacrosanct.
It’s a Legal Tug‑of‑War
Both parties are in a battle that’s hard to call a draw. Depp filed a notice to appeal the jury’s $10 million award against him, while Heard is contesting the $10.35 million she owes. It’s a classic showdown of claims versus counter‑claims, each side digging deep for the win.
Background on the Original Verdict
The jury, made up of seven members, concluded in June that Heard had defamed Depp on all three counts of the lawsuit. She was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages but nothing punitive—her bill still sits at about $10 million.
Now, with a fresh legal team in place, the story is far from over. Stay tuned as the fight—mockingly dubbed “The Voice of Freedom” by the attorneys—continues to unfold on the court’s stage.
