Defendant's Team
Michelle Kaplan
Defense attorney who examined witnesses for Amber Heard.
About
Michelle Kaplan represented Amber Heard in the Fairfax County defamation trial against Johnny Depp. She cross-examined Josh Drew, who said he had seen Depp use drugs more than 20 times, recognized his handwriting on a kitchen message, and described Heard’s facial injuries in December 2015 and May 2016. Drew denied coordinating with other witnesses.
Kaplan also examined Heard’s acting coach Kristina Sexton, who described Heard arriving at sessions in tears and recounted Depp’s disparaging remarks about Heard’s career. On redirect, Kaplan asked Sexton about a conversation in which, Sexton said, Depp joked that drug tests were easy to fake. Kaplan conducted the direct examination of actor Ellen Barkin, who described Depp throwing a wine bottle across a hotel room in her direction.
Trial Record (4)
2022 Defamation Trial Apr 11, 2022 – Jun 1, 2022 4 proceedings
Day 18
Day 19
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Evidence From Their Proceedings (8)
Photographs Unclear
December 2015 Heard Facial Injury Photos — Drew Exhibit 11
A set of photographs depicting Heard's facial injuries from December 15, 2015, attached as exhibit 13 to Heard's deposition declaration. Josh Drew confirmed he was present during…
Catalog entry → Documents Unclear
Drew 1 — Hand-drawn architectural floor plan of the penthouse layout
Hand-drawn architectural floor plan of the penthouse layout used to orient testimony about movements on May 21.
Catalog entry → Documents Unclear
Drew 7 — Document covering pages 10–13 relating to the May 21, 2016 i
Document covering pages 10–13 relating to the May 21, 2016 incident, referenced as the basis for Kaplan's narrative questioning.
Catalog entry → Photographs Unclear
Drew Exhibit 10 — Kitchen Counter Writing, PH3 (Dec. 15, 2015)
A photograph of the kitchen counter in Penthouse 3 showing handwriting attributed to Depp reading 'Why be a fraud. All is such bullshit.' Josh Drew identified the handwriting as…
Catalog entry → Photographs Unclear
Drew Exhibit 18 — PH5 Damage Photos (May 21, 2016)
Photographs depicting damage inside Penthouse 5 from the May 21, 2016 incident, including Heard's closet area and a stairwell landing.
Catalog entry → Photographs Unclear
May 21, 2016 Night Photos by Drew — Injuries and Apartment
A series of photographs taken on the night of May 21, 2016, designated as Drew Exhibit 13, depicting Heard's facial injuries, apartment damage including broken glass and pictures…
Catalog entry → Photographs Unclear
May 22, 2016 Face Photos — Drew 14
Photographs of Heard's face taken on May 22, 2016, the day after the May 21 incident, designated as Drew Exhibit 14. Drew confirmed they were taken by him or Pennington and were…
Catalog entry → Documents Unclear
Sexton 1 — IMDb page for The Playboy Club
IMDb page for The Playboy Club, used to refresh Sexton's recollection of the year she first worked with Heard as a TV acting coach.
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