Attorneys for three producers of Rebel Wilson’s film “The Deb” who are suing the actress for defamation are asking the judge presiding over the case to seek help from an Australian court in obtaining depositions from citizens of that country.
On Thursday, lawyers for Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden filed court papers with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thomas D. Long in advance of a July 28 hearing stating the depositions are necessary to rebut some of Wilson’s claims about the plaintiffs.
A California court does not have the power to subpoena citizens of another country. So, attorneys have the option of requesting a California judge to issue a letter rogatory, which is a formal written request sent by a court in one country to the judiciary of a foreign country. The letters ask the foreign court to provide judicial assistance, such as serving legal documents or compelling a witness to provide evidence for a pending case.
In a sworn declaration, plaintiffs’ attorney Camille M. Vasquez says one example of a an Australian citizen who can provide important information to the case is Greer Simpkin, a woman who was a local producer of the “The Deb,” who witnessed the events underlying Wilson’s embezzlement allegations and was directly involved in the alleged “false imprisonment” on October 18, 2023.
“Ms. Simpkin has discoverable information and is anticipated to testify that there was no embezzlement or improper handling of film monies by the plaintiffs and she never told Wilson that any money had been allegedly embezzled,” Vasquez says.
Simpkin also is expected to say Wilson was never imprisoned, that the actress was never coerced into signing anything and that there were no financial or tax irregularities on the film, contrary to Wilson’s allegations, according to Vasquez.
The attorney also cites the anticipated testimony of Neaome “Noni” Roy, the film’s second assistant director, who has been identified by Wilson as a witness to alleged improper behavior by the plaintiffs, including Wilson’s imprisonment allegation.
“Roy is expected to testify that no such improper behavior occurred and that there is no basis to suggest Wilson was ever imprisoned,” according to Vasquez.
Wilson has filed a countersuit in the original underlying case that accuses the producers of a “troubling pattern” of “theft, bullying and sexual misconduct” while also contending they inflated the film’s budget and split the extra money between themselves.
In November 2024, the judge denied Wilson’s dismissal motion in the producers’ underlying case and his ruling is under appeal.