Person Laura Wasser Depp v. Heard← All People
Witness

Laura Wasser

Courtroom still of Laura Wasser.

Depp’s divorce attorney and a deposition witness in the defamation trial.

2022 Defamation Trial Apr 11 – Jun 1, 2022
Called by plaintiff
124 lines 1 proceedings 4 highlights

About

Laura Wasser represented Johnny Depp in his divorce proceedings and testified by deposition in his defamation trial. She explained that, under California community-property rules, domestic-violence allegations did not change how community assets were divided. She said Amber Heard obtained an ex parte temporary restraining order without prior notice on May 27, 2016.

Wasser also addressed building surveillance footage subpoenaed during the divorce. She testified that the footage had not been destroyed but had not been searched. She said the August 2016 settlement amount was not allocated among different types of claims.

Trial Record (1)

2022 Defamation Trial Apr 11, 2022 – Jun 1, 2022 1 proceeding

Day 10

Direct Direct Examination of Laura Wasser Laura Wasser Elaine Bredehoft 4 124
Summary

Heard's counsel examines Depp's divorce attorney Laura Wasser by deposition on California property law, the May 2016 ex parte TRO, ECB surveillance footage, and the August 2016 settlement.

Highlights (4)
Quote

“California is a community property state, and what that means, to me, is that assets which were earned or created during the course of the marriage, absent some other theory of law applied, be divided equally.”

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Quote

“All I recall is that without any notice to us, at 8:30 in the morning of the 27th, Samantha Spector and her client went into court and obtained a no-notice ex parte restraining order.”

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Quote

“I think the absence of us doing anything to destroy the video footage would be the most I could testify regarding in terms of steps that we took to preserve video footage.”

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Locations

Evidence From Their Proceedings (11)

Documents Excluded

Depp-Heard Final Dissolution Judgment

The stipulated final judgment for the dissolution of marriage between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, approximately fifty pages in length, including a provision dismissing the…

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Documents Unclear

August 16, 2016 Divorce Deal Point Memorandum

A deal point memorandum signed on August 16, 2016, bearing signatures of both parties and both lead counsel, identified by Wasser as the controlling memorandum for the final…

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August 5, 2016 Settlement Negotiation Letter (Spector to Wasser)

An August 5, 2016 letter from Samantha Spector to Laura Wasser, protected under Evidence Code section 1152 as a settlement communication.

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Corporate Designee Subpoena to Wasser Firm

A corporate designee subpoena directed to Wasser, Cooperman & Handles compelling the firm's testimony through its designated representative.

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Depp FL-150 Financial Disclosure Forms

FL-150 financial disclosure forms identified as Depp's preliminary or final declaration of disclosure filed during the dissolution proceeding.

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June 21, 2016 Media Blackout Confirmation Letter

A June 21, 2016 letter from Samantha Klein to Spector, Carter, and Levine confirming agreements reached in the divorce proceedings, including a mutual media blackout clause…

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June 3, 2016 Litigation Hold Letter (Spector to Klein)

A June 3, 2016 litigation hold and preservation of information letter from Samantha Spector to Samantha Klein.

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June 6, 2016 Preservation Acknowledgment Letter (Wasser to Carter)

A June 6, 2016 response letter from Wasser's firm to Charles Carter acknowledging preservation obligations and committing to comply.

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June 6, 2016 Preservation Request Letter (Carter to Wasser)

A June 6, 2016 letter from Charles Carter to Laura Wasser requesting evidence preservation on behalf of Heard.

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May 24, 2016 Divorce Initiation Letter (Spector to Bloom)

A May 24, 2016 letter from Samantha Spector to Jake Bloom initiating divorce proceedings on Heard's behalf and requesting pendente lite support and acknowledgment of service.

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Subpoena to Laura Wasser (Personal)

A subpoena served on Laura Wasser compelling her personal testimony in this deposition.

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