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Johnny Depp’s $30m legal battle with former lawyer ends in ‘eight-figure’ settlement before trial was due to start


Johnny’s eight figures richer (Picture: Reuters)

Johnny Depp has agreed to settle his nasty legal dispute with his former lawyer for a cool ‘eight-figures’, just weeks before they were due to go head-to-head at trial.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star originally sued Jake Bloom in October 2017 for $30 million (£23 million), accusing the talent lawyer of collecting large fees without signing a proper contract.

Bloom and his company Bloom Hergott counter-sued Johnny, 56, putting a bitter end to their lengthy 18-year relationship, and demanded the case was thrown out.

A judge set a trial date for December but the case has now been resolved with a private settlement in Johnny’s favour.

Announcing the surprising turn of events, Johnny’s current lawyer Adam Waldman said in a statement provided to The Blast: ‘Today, Bloom Hergott provided Johnny Depp an eight-figure payment to settle Mr Depp’s lawsuit against the firm for fraud, conflict of interest, disgorgement of over 30 million dollars in voidable fees and other malfeasance that they engaged in over nearly two decades.’

Bloom’s lawyer Bryan Freedman also confirmed that a settlement had been reached for a ‘fraction’ of Johnny’s original demand.

In a statement, Freedman said: ‘While the firm was confident it would prevail at trial, we are nonetheless pleased with this resolution as it expedites the firm’s winding down process and allows it to get off the endless Johnny Depp litigation train.

The actor worked with Bloom for 18 years (Picture: WireImage)

‘Depp is no stranger to legal wrangles and was involved in a dispute with his former managers, the Management Group, who he accused of mishandling his affairs and pushing him to the brink of financial ruin.’

It’s the second lawsuit Johnny has gone up against with a former company in a legal dispute. Back in 2017, he accused the Management Group of mishandling his financial affairs.

However, the company argued in a countersuit that Johnny was responsible for his own finances and accused him of splurging millions of dollars on expensive wine, luxury homes and a cannon which was used to scatter the ashes of writer Hunter S Thompson.

They settled the lawsuit in July 2018.



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