A judge Thursday denied a motion by Rebel Wilson’s attorney to order former Johnny Depp lawyer Camille M. Vasquez to limit statements to the media about a defamation lawsuit brought against the Australian actress by a trio of producers of her film “The Deb.”
Wilson’s attorney recently filed papers with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thomas D. Long stating that remarks made by Vasquez and others on her team are inaccurate and harmful, and that any “extra-judicial” statements should be curtailed. Vasquez is a high-profile litigation attorney best known for representing Depp in his 2022 defamation trial against Amber Heard.
The plaintiffs in Vasquez’s current case are Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden. On Thursday, the judge denied Wilson’s attorneys’ motion.
In a sworn declaration, Vasquez said she only made three statements and that none of them were inappropriate.
“In my statements, I have sought to accurately explain the contentions in this case,” Vasquez said, adding that she is aware of the attorneys’ rule of professional conduct and that she believes that her remarks were appropriate under the circumstances, especially given the “significant publicity about my clients and this case that has been repeatedly generated by Wilson.”
Vasquez’s colleague, Samuel Moniz, contended in separate court papers that Wilson’s attorney was seeking a court order so broad that it amounted to prior restraint and was therefore unconstitutional.
“And, Wilson’s own extensive publicity-seeking conduct must be taken into account — she and her attorneys have consistently litigated this matter in the press, yet now seek to silence plaintiffs, preventing them from speaking about any aspect of this case,” Moniz further states in his court papers.
But according to Wilson’s lawyer’s pleadings, Vasquez had “repeatedly and in an ongoing pattern made media statements that comment on court rulings, the meaning of deposition testimony, the status of the case, credibility of witnesses and parties and generally disparaging Ms. Wilson at every turn.”
Wilson’s lawyer also alleged that Vasquez was indeed violating the attorneys’ rule of professional conduct and that she was “attempting to poison the well of public opinion regarding a well-known actress whose directorial debut film “The Deb” is set to be released in a matter of weeks.”
Wilson’s attorney further stated in her court papers that although Vasquez has been asked to stop such behavior, “it remains clear that they have no intention of ceasing their conduct.”