Wed Nov 27 06:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Amber Heard Loses Appeal Against Insurer in Depp Defamation Case
**San Francisco, CA** – Actress Amber Heard has lost her appeal against New York Marine & General Insurance Co., which partially covered her legal defense in the defamation lawsuit brought by her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling dismissing Heard’s claims that the insurer breached its duty to defend.
Heard argued that the insurer failed to appoint independent counsel and breached an implied covenant of good faith. However, the court found that the policy didn’t require independent counsel and that the insurer fulfilled its obligations by continuing to use Heard’s originally retained firm. The court also rejected Heard’s claim of bad faith, stating that her allegations didn’t demonstrate the insurer withheld benefits.
The case stems from the 2022 defamation trial, where Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Both parties later settled, with one of Heard’s other insurers, a Travelers Cos. unit, paying Depp $1 million. New York Marine reportedly paid over $600,000 to Travelers for its share of the defense costs.
The Ninth Circuit’s decision affirms the dismissal of Heard’s counterclaims and the insurer’s coverage action. This concludes the legal battle between Heard and New York Marine regarding the coverage of her defense in the highly publicized defamation case.
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