According to Marca, Amber Heard is demanding the dismissal of the ongoing legal battle between her and her insurance company, New York Marine and General Insurance Co., regarding the judgment awarded to her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. However, the insurance company has refused to drop the case, as per court documents.
The lawsuit was filed by New York Marine and General Insurance Co. in July 2022, shortly after a Virginia jury found Heard liable for defaming Johnny Depp. The jury ordered Heard to pay a substantial $8.3 million as a result of the defamation case. Seeking financial assistance, Heard requested that the insurance company cover a portion of the verdict.
While acknowledging Heard’s $1 million liability policy that included coverage for defamation, New York Marine and General Insurance Co. invoked a provision in the policy exempting them from liability if the wrongful conduct was determined to be “willful.” They argued that the jury had deemed Heard’s actions as both willful and malicious, thereby relieving them of the responsibility to cover any part of the judgment owed to Depp.
Undeterred by the insurance company’s position, Heard responded by filing a countersuit, insisting that New York Marine and General Insurance Co. should be held responsible despite their opposition. She claimed that the company had previously offered to cover her legal expenses, up to $1 million, without any limitations.
In December 2022, Heard announced that she had reached a settlement with Depp, effectively ending their legal battle and any pending appeals. Reports indicated that Heard paid Depp $1 million to resolve the matter, a significantly lower amount than the original judgment. It was also revealed that this settlement was covered by another insurance company representing Heard.
However, in a recent court filing, Heard expressed frustration as New York Marine and General Insurance Co. refused to drop the case, despite there being no further issues to litigate. She implored the judge to dismiss the lawsuit, emphasizing that there was “nothing left to dispute.” Nevertheless, the insurance company continues to pursue its claims against Heard.
Heard’s lawyer argued that New York Marine currently faces no actual or potential economic harm from Heard, as she has withdrawn her claim for indemnity and is not seeking any defense costs from them unless the court’s dismissal order is overturned on appeal.
