Person Edward White Depp v. Heard← All People
Witness

Edward White

Depp’s business manager and accountant, who testified about a financial briefing, divorce payments and charitable disbursements.

2022 Defamation Trial Apr 11 – Jun 1, 2022
Called by plaintiff
187 lines 3 proceedings 9 highlights

About

Edward White testified that Johnny Depp was engaged and appeared unimpaired during an April 2016 financial meeting. He described negotiations over Depp and Amber Heard’s divorce, including demands that increased over time and $6.8 million paid directly to Heard. White said Depp directed him to issue $100,000 checks to the ACLU and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

On cross-examination, Heard’s counsel questioned White’s $710 hourly billing and confronted him with prior sworn testimony in which he had agreed that the financial briefing was “catastrophic.” White said he had no personal knowledge of the domestic-abuse allegations. On redirect, he read a letter describing the ACLU check as the first of multiple scheduled installments toward Heard’s pledged gift, but said he had no copy of the pledge and did not know its payment schedule. A Children’s Hospital representative later testified that a follow-up request sent to White for further installments went unanswered.

Trial Record (3)

2022 Defamation Trial Apr 11, 2022 – Jun 1, 2022 3 proceedings

Day 11

Direct Direct Examination of Edward White Edward White Wayne Dennison 5 74
Summary

Depp's accountant testified about the April 21, 2016 meeting, settlement negotiations totaling $14.25M, charity payments, and Heard's wine orders at the birthday party.

Highlights (5)
Quote

“He was very interested in the contents. He asked very thoughtful questions. He was fully engaged and fully sensitive to the matters that we were discussing.”

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Quote

“She initially was looking for a consideration of $4 million. But that demand continually increased. It went from $4 million to $5 million. Then it went from $5 million to 5 and a half million dollars. Then it went to $7 million. And then it was $7 million, and she required demanded that Mr. Depp also pay $500,000 to her attorneys.”

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Quote

“Therefore, in 2017, she was paid $4.5 million directly paid to her. Then on February 1 of 2018, she was paid the final installment of $2.3 million, for total payments that went directly to Ms. Heard of $6.8 million.”

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Quote

“Yes I do We pay all of his obligations But his wine bill has shrunk to virtually zero because he does not consume that much in way of wine He's made a few gifts around Christmastime but his wine bill has gone to virtually zero”

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Quote

“At Ms Heard's request she ordered five bottles of the wine and eight bottles of other wine, so a total of 13 bottles of wine.”

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Redirect Redirect Examination of Edward White Edward White Wayne Dennison 3 4
Summary

Dennison elicits the pledge letter language confirming Heard's $3.5M gift as installment-based, then closes by confirming Depp is fully current on all taxes.

Highlights (3)
Quote

“This check represents the first of multiple scheduled installments to honor the full amount of Ms. Heard's $3.5 million pledged gift”

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Quote

“I don't know the schedule because I don't have a copy of any pledge that she made, if that's your question.”

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Quote

“Yes, he has. He's fully current with all of his federal, foreign, and state tax obligations.”

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Locations

Evidence From Their Proceedings (9)

Documents Admitted

White Cover Letter to ACLU — $100K Pledge Installment

A cover letter from Edward White to the ACLU, dated August 24, 2016, enclosing Depp's $100,000 check and characterizing the payment as the first of multiple scheduled installments…

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Digital Communications Admitted

Jacobs–White Text re Pirates 5 ADR Lateness (Ex. 874A)

A redacted page from a text exchange between agent Tracey Jacobs and business manager Edward White, in which Jacobs reported Disney's complaint that Depp had arrived five hours…

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Documents Admitted

PX-936 Depp Tax Returns 2009–2019

Plaintiff's Exhibit 936 — Depp's tax returns for Depp and his companies for 2009–2019, prepared by Ed White's firm, including page 69 showing 2015 earnings of $43 million.

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Documents Unclear

Divorce Settlement Payment Records

Records documenting the full financial scope of Depp's payments under the divorce agreement, including amounts paid directly to Heard, to her attorneys, and toward community…

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Testimonial Unclear

Edward White UK Trial Testimony (p. 865 — 'Catastrophic News')

Edward White's sworn testimony from the UK libel trial, page 865, containing a question and answer in which White characterizes an April 21 briefing as 'catastrophic news.'

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Documents Unclear

Twenty Twenty Wine Invoices (~$160K balance)

Twenty Twenty Wine Merchants invoices showing a balance of approximately $160,000 at the time of the Depp-Heard divorce and a near-zero current balance.

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Documents Unclear

White Checks to Children's Hospital LA and ACLU

Checks issued by Edward White to Children's Hospital Los Angeles ($100,000 ×2) and the ACLU ($100,000), reflecting Depp's direct charitable contributions prior to or alongside the…

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Documents Admitted

White Cover Letter to CHLA — First Pledge Installment (Def. Ex. 1596)

A cover letter from Edward White to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles enclosing a check, using identical 'first of multiple scheduled installments' language to describe Heard's…

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Documents Unclear

White's February 2, 2022 deposition transcript, page 116 — Christi Dembrowski communication

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