Johnny Depp's Lawyer dismisses claim that jurors were "tainted"

Los Angeles, California - Johnny Depp's lawyers say claims by Amber Heard's representatives that jurors had been "tainted" by the case's publicity when reaching their verdicts are "baseless."

Johnny Depp's attorney Benjamin Chew listening to Depp's testimony on May 25, 2022.
Johnny Depp's attorney Benjamin Chew listening to Depp's testimony on May 25, 2022.  © EVELYN HOCKSTEIN / POOL / AFP

Benjamin Chew, who was part of the actor's legal team, said the aspersions cast on juror integrity by Heard's lawyer Elaine Bredehoft in a recent interview were "really disappointing" to hear.

Bredehoft made the remarks during an interview with Today shortly after verdicts were returned in the multi-million-dollar defamation case.

Depp sued his former partner over a 2018 op-ed written in the Washington Post, which his lawyers said falsely accused him of being physically and sexually violent towards her.

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Chew discussed Bredehoft's claims during an interview with Law &
Crime Network: "I was really disappointed to hear that because she's a very good lawyer, very experienced."

"It seemed to cast aspersions on the jurors' integrity because, as you know, they took an oath not to watch social media and there's no reason to believe that they did," Chew continued. "So to hear such a baseless claim was disappointing."

Chew dismisses Heard's lawyer's claims

Johnny Depp embraces his attorney Benjamin Chew after closing arguments in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 27, 2022.
Johnny Depp embraces his attorney Benjamin Chew after closing arguments in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 27, 2022.  © STEVE HELBER / POOL / AFP

During her interview, Bredehoft also told Today there were "a number of evidentiary issues," which Chew said was "absurd."

"There are rules of evidence and both sides had evidence that were excluded for proper evidentiary reasons," he said.

Heard will "absolutely" be appealing the verdict and has "excellent grounds" to do so, Bredehoft has said.

Cover photo: STEVE HELBER / POOL / AFP

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