Amber Heard Insists Insurance Company Should Cover Losses in Defamation Trial Against Johnny Depp as Actress Files Counterclaim in Legal Saga

Amber Heard is suing the company behind her $1 million insurance policy, saying that the corporation was responsible for her losses from the Johnny Depp trial.

Heard, 36, countersued New York Marine and General Insurance Co. after the insurer urged a judge to absolve it of responsibility after being forced to pay over $8.3 million to her ex-husband during their bitter defamation trial.

Amber Heard Urges Insurance Company to Pay for Defamation Settlement

Amber Heard bought a $1 million liability insurance policy to protect her from libel lawsuits. However, the insurer contended that they are not required under California law to honor the insurance since the jury concluded Amber Heard committed deliberate misconduct in her allegations against Johnny Depp.

Heard is arguing the opposite, according to court documents acquired by TMZ, and says she made a "unconditional bargain" that would always safeguard her. The countersuit was filed only a few weeks after Depp, 59, appealed the court's decision that he pay Heard $2 million following their trial.

Per Daily Mail, Heard claimed in her countersuit that it was a "breach of contract" on the part of New York Marine and General Insurance Co. to try to renounce their agreement. It is the most recent incident between Heard and her insurance.

New York Marine General Insurance Company and Travelers Commercial Insurance Company are at conflict. In July 2021, Travelers filed a lawsuit against New York Marine to recover payment for the portion of defense costs that ended up being paid by Heard.

Amber Heard had received a general liability insurance coverage from New York Marine for $1 million, while her homes policy with Travelers only covered "libel" to the tune of roughly $500,000.

Amber Heard had received a general liability insurance coverage from New York Marine for $1 million, while her homes policy with Travelers only covered "libel" to the tune of roughly $500,000. Due to the fact that their attorneys were excluded from several court hearings, they now want the return of the $621,693 they contributed to Heard's defense fund.

In order to avoid paying into the libel settlement, the insurers are suing Heard under a California statute that forbids insurance companies from covering "willful conduct." Heard has retained the services of attorney Kirk Pasich to attempt to resolve this matter on her behalf. Johnny Depp, 59, received $10 to $15 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive penalties at the conclusion of the defamation trial.

Later, the judge set the maximum allowable damages for the state at $350,000, leaving Depp with a total recovery of $8.35 million. Meanwhile, Amber Heard was successful in one of her three countersuit allegations relating to Depp's attorney's comments that the actress and her companions had wrecked their flat before contacting the police.

Out of the $100 million that the actress requested in compensatory damages, $2 million was granted. Depp's team did the same to challenge the couple million dollars the star owes to his ex-wife a day after Heard's team filed an appeal. In order to guarantee that "all information is examined by the court" when they return to evaluate Heard's appeal, the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor's team said they filed an appeal.

Amber Heard's Legal Team Files an Appeal

Heard's lawyer requested that the court set aside the verdict and declare a mistrial before Amber Heard filed an appeal. One of the jurors in the case was said to not have been qualified to participate since his summons was meant for his father, who had the same name and residence.

The judge denied the request, saying that the jury's decision should stand because there was no "evidence of fraud or wrongdoing" by the juror. The action should not proceed due to the appeal, according to a seven-page scheduling report submitted on October 31. This included depositions set for November 15.

Furthermore, it claimed Heard is not subject to the jurisdiction of the US District Court because she "was not a resident of the United States at the time New York Marine filed its action and is not a resident of the United States at the present time."

The filing was only a joint scheduling report, according to which New York Marine may soon ask a judge to issue a protective order to stop the depositions, which it said were set to begin in the middle of November. As of November 22 there has been no paperwork submitted.

On December 1, Judge Wu in Los Angeles will have a telephone status conference about the case. On November 29, a joint status report is required, as per Law & Crime via MSN.