Phoebe Bridgers’ lawyers criticise deposition request as “thinly veiled harassment”

nme.com:

Phoebe Bridgers have criticised a deposition request from Chris Nelson in an ongoing lawsuit against Bridgers, calling it “nothing more than thinly veiled harassment.”On Instagram in October 2020, Bridgers directed her followers to a thread by her friend Emily Bannon, which Nelson claimed was defamatory.Nelson subsequently sued Bridgers for defamation and is seeking $3.8million (£2.8million) in damages.

He claims Bridgers “intentionally used her high-profile public platform on Instagram to publish false and defamatory statements” about him “in order to destroy his reputation”.In a sworn declaration filed on February 14, Bridgers responded, saying: “I believe that the statements I made in my Instagram story are true.

My statements were made based on my personal knowledge, including statements I personally heard Mr. Nelson make.”Nelson subsequently demanded the right to depose Bridgers, saying it was the only way to prove that the musician defamed him.Now, Bridgers’ lawyers are claiming this request amounts to “harassment”.Bridgers’ lawyer, Alan A.

Greenberg, wrote in a court filing today (March 16): “Mr. Nelson’s amorphous request for discovery based on his attorney’s circular statement that it is necessary is nothing more than thinly veiled harassment.”Last month, Bridgers sought to end the lawsuit, citing California’s anti-SLAPP law in a new court filing.