The Lawsuits Thread

[Moonbeam]

Good morning Zoners. I just read an interesting article that is pretty much pointing out things such as body language, at times. It shows that AH is more likely the abuser, which, I believe, has been established, but not yet in a court of law. Feel free to delete if it's rehashed.

[ForeverYoung]

New tweet from Alan Waldman about the ex-make up artist being forced to testify. Everyone should be able to read it, but can't respond if you're not on twitter. I'm sure she is a little scared but she can thank AH for that.

[AdeleAgain]

Looks like they amended the 'mistake' in the article after Adam's tweet?

It is interesting - Melanie engaged on social media, implying that she concurred with AH's testimony - now she says she has no relevant testimony. My reading of that is that she didn't cover any bruises and in particular probably doesn't want to contradict Samantha McMillen's very credible testimony about the James Corden appearance (which is backed up by actual footage of AH clearly not with a broken lip!) Who has more credibility in the industry? Unquestionably Samantha McMillen.

If she was involved in the actual 21 May hoax, that could be very, very serious I presume, as in criminal charges as a possibility - even if a remote possibility.

So Melanie has offered to give a deposition on the US case - again just my interpretation she could give a deposition saying AH told her repeatedly she was abused but she can't recall specific incidents - that deposition would then just not be useful and forgotten about.

It is so interesting that she used a phrase saying she had no relevant testimony.

The other one who is fascinating in Laura Divinere. Every word of that transcript phone call to me was a classic case of someone who has reluctantly told the teacher about the pretty, popular school bully and then tries to squirm out of owning it with that bully. Note she wouldn't answer properly about whether she noticed AH was bruised. She also mentions "I don't know what's happening with Elon" - seems like the business from JD dried up and AH said she'd introduce her to Elon - but nothing landed.

Very clearly - no one except Mr Waldman and JD really expected this to go to trial!

[AdeleAgain]

As a postscript - Lbock I've seen your excellent twitter thread and suspect you are right - Melanie may have offered to give a deposition in Virgina because AH's side believed that would never get to court.

[ForeverYoung]

Another Adam Waldman posting about the ex's "witnesses."

[Lbock]

Another Adam Waldman posting about the ex's "witnesses."

He missed a few more
Brandon McCulloch
Lauren Shapiro
Kelly Milano

It'd be interesting to go back and see if others who have been subpoened early on are now also repped by Anya Goldstein.

And I found it intersting in the THR article that the Sun lawyer mentioned Melanie submitted a signed declaration. Declaration is a word used in US law. I think in UK it is referred to as a Witness Statement. So that tells me Melanie submitted a Declaration in the VA case and is also willing to do a deposition. It also tells me Kaplan (et al) is sharing evidence with The Sun trial, but I think we concluded this.

"As evidenced by a declaration that she signed in 2019, Ms. Inglessis’ testimony is of critical importance at the trial," writes attorney Alexander Rufus-Isaacs in an opposition filed Friday. "The alternative proposed by Ms. Inglessis (taking her deposition) is not acceptable because it would place Respondents at a significant disadvantage at trial."

[ForeverYoung]

I am still of the opinion that someone else besides AH is paying all these legal bills, including her own.

[Lbock]

There has been so much filed and talking about in both cases, I had to go look back.

Depp team subpoenaed Melanie August 2019
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit/s ... 2-2019.pdf

The last paragraphs ask about the affadavit she submitted in 2016. It doesn't mention anything about a 2019 declaration, so I am pretty convinced she gave it after August 2019, which would be after Samantha gave hers which was released June 2019. So Melanie knew full well what Samantha claimed.

If Melanie gave a declaration, I'm not pretty convinced Kaplan has a handfull of them. I think she hasn't released any to the media because they are still going to try for a blanket or broader protective order. If she released them, she couldn't walk back on privacy. (speculation here)

Doesn't look like the rats are jumping ship

UPDATE/CORRECTION: It appears that Depp Team asked pretty much all her potential witnesses to submit all documents and communication regarding preparing an affadavit for 2016 TRO. So I guess, they were "fishing" just in case.

[Ruby Begonia]

I am still of the opinion that someone else besides AH is paying all these legal bills, including her own.

Agreed, ForeverYoung! No way AH is paying for this representation. She's cheap, vulgar and heartless: imagine poor Kate James having to call big name designers and drop Johnny's name to get free stuff for her bully boss. AH and her delusions of grandeur

[ForeverYoung]

JD's team issued a subpoena to the Children's Hospital of LA.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit/s ... 1-2020.pdf

[Ruby Begonia]

You beat me to it, ForeverYoung!

Here's my input anyway minus your invaluable link to the entire document.

New document of Fairfax County Court: Subpoena requested by JD's team for Children's Hospital of Los Angeles to produce material they have on any donations AH made to them from 2016 to date as well as any communications to them by AH regarding the divorce between JD & AH and their relationship.

[Lbock]

I’ve been blowing up Twitter. Here are the CHLA reports. And don’t forget to note their fiscal year dates and Match up to his settlement payment schedule. Then note in October 2018 she stated in Dutch Tv show she fully donated the $7M

https://www.chla.org/donor-honor-roll

Again. This is the only way I can post screenshots





(1:33)

[AdeleAgain]

Melanie's declaration in the Virginia case is here:



(It's embedded in the Hollywood Reporter recent article).

So - a number of questions: why take a photo of some writing but not AH's injuries?

No mention that Samantha McMillen, AH's stylist was present?

Still seems inconceivable to me about the split lip - doesn't matter what lipstick you are wearing, if your lip is split and you make big facial expressions as AH does, you would flinch - and the split lip would show?

Only discusses one incident. Why? Melanie was in the lift with AH following the May 21 incident - why no mention of this?

It feels perfunctory as a statement. And why be unwilling to be cross examined on the evidence?

I return to a sentiment many here have expressed - if one of my friends had been physically harmed by her husband and needed my support speaking out - I wouldn't care about catching COVID-19 or anything else.

[Lbock]

So I think important to find out when this declaration was prepared.

My guess is that Samantha McMillen came to the condo earlier in the day with her outfit, etc. saw her with no makeup. She appeared fine. At whatever time, Samantha left and was to meet her at the studio

Melanie arrives to do the makeup. At some point the hair stylist. Melanie never mentions Raquel. (But amber said after the fight the first thing she remembers is seeing Raquel and Melanie, no mention of hair guy). I’m thinking at this point, Melanie had no idea Samantha has been there and saw Amber

They leave to go to the studio. Samantha mentions she saw Raquel and over heard them saying something about getting the photos on amber’s computer. Melanie doesn’t mention Raquel at all, again

I think Melanie believed amber was being abused back in 2016 and she was willing to lie for her to her to help in the divorce against the monster. And amber promised they’d never go to court.

So now Melanie wants nothing to do with the U.K. trial. She agreed in December to do the deposition in VA, etc but I think they were convinced it was going to be dismissed. UK says this is hearsay and they need her so file an exparte motion in March to compel her to testify April 1 in LA. Melanie refuses to voluntarily testify for UK. COVID happens. March 23 is to be the trial. She isolates in Florida Keys and refuses to allow UK Sun to serve her lawyer on her behalf. She fully expects to wait out the trial in Florida and never testify. Then, alas, it is postponed.

So when did Melanie give this declaration. Had to be before June when Adam released Savannah’s declaration debunking her. (Maybe that’s why he released it) I can’t believe she’d go on record and never mention seeing Samantha after this was released. Also, the cctv of her actions after may 21 weren’t known yet

Thoughts?

[AdeleAgain]

You are good Lbock!

I like your theory that Melanie may have believed AH when at some point she said she was being abused.

It all comes down to why she doesn't want to answer questions. What all of this has taught me is how difficult it is to lie under the cross examination of clever lawyers. It doesn't matter how straight you have your story - you cannot prep for the details you will be asked. In the depositions where we've seen JD, he certainly seems to be truthful. He says when he cannot remember or doesn't know. Takes his time to recall, gives full answers and his body language is consistent with when people recollect events.

You see AH struggling to keep her stories straight - and her personality is such that she just ploughs on - and elaborates more and more. And don't even start me on the body language.

Raquel was something else. She had to think hard and struggled even to give straight answers to very straightforward questions eg how her declaration came about.

Only a theory of course because there is so much we don't know, but your time line looks good (certainly approaching the UK trial) - Melanie presumably does not want her testimony held up against others (Samantha, the property manager) - she does not want to have her testimony probed by JD's barristers, and she presumably does not want to answer questions about what happened after May 21.