Lawsuits

Johnny Depp Settles Assault Lawsuit With Film Location Manager

Johnny Depp has settled a lawsuit stemming from an alleged assault involving Gregg Brooks, who worked as a location manager on the actor’s 2018 film "City of Lies"

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Johnny Depp is trying to put all his legal drama behind him.

On July 11, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star, 59, settled a lawsuit stemming from an alleged assault involving a crew member on the set of his 2018 crime thriller, "City of Lies."

According to court documents obtained by E! News, Depp and Gregg "Rocky" Brooks — who worked as a location manager on the film — reached a settlement before they were scheduled to go to a civil trial on July 25. Judge Holly J. Fujie agreed to put off the impending trial until Jan. 5, 2023.

In 2017, Brooks alleged in court documents, obtained by E! News at the time, that Depp became irate when he told him that filming for "City of Lies" had to shut down one night due to the city's permit policies. Brooks also said the actor "maliciously and forcefully punched plaintiff twice in the lower left side of his rib cage."

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Brooks also alleged in the lawsuit that he suffered "physical pain and emotional and psychological injury" from the alleged assault, adding that Depp's "intoxication and temper created a hostile, abusive and unsafe work environment."

The location manager said in the lawsuit that he was ultimately fired from the production of the film after he refused to sign a release, waiving his right to sue over the incident.

However, the star of "The Rum Diary" fought back against Brooks' allegations. "Despite false media reports suggesting otherwise, Johnny Depp never touched the person suing him as over a dozen witnesses present will attest," Depp's attorneys said in a statement to E! News in August 2018. "In a court filing, we have generally denied all claims and we will fight the latest sham allegations."

In court documents that were obtained by E! News at the time, Depp's team also denied that Brooks was "entitled to any remedy of relief, legal, equitable, or otherwise, in any sum whatsoever."

E! News has reached out to attorneys for Depp and Brooks and have not heard back.

"Defamation is not intended to shut survivors down, and if that's the message that the public takes from this, we're going to have a major problem," says Sarah Klein, an attorney and survivor. She joined LX News host Tabitha Lipkin to discuss the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial verdict.
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