MOVIE set manager who accuses Johnny Depp of hitting him on set says he’s looking forward to his day in court despite the actor winning a libel case against ex-wife Amber Heard.
Gregg “Rocky” Brooks is suing Depp, 58, over an incident he claims happened in April 2017 while they were working together.
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The 61-year-old filmmaker filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles in July 2018, accusing the star of “causing him emotional distress” after punching him twice in the chest.
Following Depp’s victory in a libel case against 36-year-old Aquaman actress Heard, Brooks’ lawyer Pat Harris told Kristen Bell Tattoos exclusively: “While we respect the jury’s decision, it has nothing to do with Mr. Brooks’ case in Los Angeles.
“The Brooks case is not about two Hollywood celebrities in a toxic relationship.
“It’s about the star of the production attacking a hard-working crew member.
“Mr. Brooks is looking forward to his day in court.”
In his lawsuit, Brooks alleges that Depp hired two friends for a scene they filmed in downtown Los Angeles for City of Lies, a film about the murder of rapper Biggie Smalls.
He says the scene didn’t go well and he told the director and then Depp that they had another chance.
Brooks claims the actor reacted inconsistently, and despite Rocky’s attempt to approach an LAPD officer for protection, Depp attacked him and yelled, “Who the hell are you? You have no right to tell me what to do.”
Brooks says he didn’t react when he was hit twice in the chest and claims Depp yelled, “I’ll give you $100,000 to punch me in the face right now.”
The lawsuit alleges that Depp continued his tirade before being escorted away by bodyguards and that he smelled of alcohol on his breath during the argument.
In his response to the lawsuit, Depp stated that Brooks’ injuries were due to “self-defense/protection of others”.
He also claimed that Brooks “provoked” the actions that led to his injuries.
Brooks seeks unspecified damages.
libel battle
His attorney’s statement came after Pirates of the Caribbean star Depp won a libel case against ex-wife Heard on Wednesday.
A jury in Fairfax, Virginia found that Hurd had maliciously slandered him and awarded him $15 million, which is divided into $10 million in damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
But the punitive damages in the state of Virginia are capped at $350,000, meaning he will only get $10.35 million.
Heard was also awarded $2 million in her counterclaim against Depp due to her lawyer’s statements about her in the media, which she said were defamatory.
Depp did not appear at the jury’s verdict on the third day of deliberations after a six-week trial.
SIX WEEKS STUDY
Earlier this week he was in London playing guitar on stage at the Royal Albert Hall with rock legend Jeff Beck.
But in a statement, he said, “The jury gave me back my life.”
Heard said after the verdict that she was utterly disappointed and the verdict was a setback for women.
Depp sued Heard for $50 million over an article she wrote for the Washington Post in which she described herself as a victim of domestic violence.
Although it did not mention Depp’s name, he said it ruined his career and reputation.
Heard filed a $100 million counterclaim against Depp over claims made by his lawyer, Adam Waldman, about her.
The televised legal battle, which has swept viewers across the US and around the world, is the second time the former Hollywood power couple has been sued.
In 2020, Depp lost a libel case when a High Court judge in London ruled that Kristen Bell Tattoos did not commit libel by calling the actor a “wife beater”.
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