Chinese Herald Network – Herald News – Depp wins $15 million in defamation lawsuit against ex-wife

amber in court

Winning Depp

According to foreign media reports, Johnny Depp (Johnny Depp) sues ex-wife Amber Heard (Amber Heard) defamation case concluded. According to the verdict, Amber, 36, currently owes her ex-husband Depp, 58, $10.35 million, and Amber said it would appeal the decision.

After less than three days of deliberation, the jury found Depp guilty of all three defamation charges against Amber, finding that Amber had previously falsely accused Depp of domestic violence. Depp will receive between $15 million and $10 million in damages, as well as $5 million in punitive damages. A judge later limited the damages to $350,000, under Virginia rules, and Depp could get a total of $8.35 million. In contrast, Amber won only one of her three countersuits, for which Amber sought $100 million in damages but could only receive $2 million in compensatory damages, punitive Damages are zero.

Amber is planning an appeal, according to Alafair Hall, a spokesman for Amber. It’s unclear on what grounds Amber is appealing, but to get leave to appeal she would need to prove there was an error in the trial or that the chief judge’s interpretation of the law was wrong.

Amber was sad as she left the courtroom, and one of her lawyers put her hand on her back to comfort her as she got into the car with her sister Whitney. By contrast, Depp was celebrating with rock stars Jeff Beck and Sam Fender in a British pub that day.

Amber said after the verdict: “My disappointment today is indescribable and I am heartbroken because the mountain of evidence is still insufficient to counter the enormous power and influence of my ex-husband. I am even more disappointed that this verdict is a setback for other women, it throws back time to a time when women would be publicly shamed for speaking out, and it thwarts the idea that violence against women should be taken seriously . “

After Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard for defamation, Amber’s lawyer Elaine Bredehoft also claimed on the show: Amber definitely wants to appeal because he may not be able to pay more than 10 million USD compensation.

The lawyer also said the verdict in this case will send a bad message to people: domestic violence victims must be perfect victims to be trusted, “unless you take out your phone and record your significant other beating you, Otherwise people won’t believe it.”

“Six years ago, my life, the lives of my children, the lives of those closest to me and the lives of those who supported and believed in me over the years were forever changed,” Depp said in a statement. , the jury gave me a new lease of life. I’m really flattered.”