Johnny Depp has won his defamation case against Amber Heard and the jury awarded him $15million. $10million in compensatory damages and $5million in punitive damages.
The panel of seven in Fairfax decided to award the Pirates of the Caribbean star a total $15 million in damages after deliberating for about 13 hours. The judge, however, reduced the $5million punitive damages he could receive to $350,000 because Virginia law caps punitive damages in these cases at $350k. Amber now owes Johnny Depp $8,350,000.
Depp was not in court for the ruling as he was in the UK on tour with guitar legend Jeff Beck.
However, Amber Heard was in court.
Heard was awarded $2million in compensatory damages out of the $100million she was seeking in her countersuit against her ex-husband. She was awarded zero dollars in punitive damages.
Heard, 36, alleged Depp physically and sexually abused her.
But Depp repeatedly denied the claims.
Over the course of the six-week trial, Depp‘s lawyers went to lengths to prove that Depp, not Heard, was the victim of domestic abuse in their relationship.
Amber Heard said in a statement after the verdict: “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband.”
Heard called the verdict a “setback” for other women, saying: “It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.”
She continued: “I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly.”
The actress won her second of three counts in her $100 million counterclaim against her ex-husband, with the jury finding that Depp‘s attorney Adam Waldman did defame her when he told the Daily Mail she set up Depp in a hoax when the police came to their apartment in May 2016.
Taking to Instagram to react, Aquaman star, Heard said she is disappointed and sad as the verdict is a “setback for women”.
She wrote;
“I believe Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the U.K. I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American — to speak freely and openly,”
Johnny Depp also later released his first statement after winning case against Amber Heard.
Following the verdict, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor praised his legal team and those who supported him throughout the trial.
The statement read;
“Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed“.
“All in the blink of an eye“.
“False, very serious, and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me. It had already traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career“.
“And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humble“.
“My decision to pursue this case, knowing very well the height of the legal hurdles that I would be facing and the inevitable, worldwide spectacle into my life, was only made after considerable thought“.
“From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that“.
“I am, and have been, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and the colossal support and kindness from around the world. I hope that my quest to have the truth be told will have helped others, men or women, who have found themselves in my situation, and that those supporting them never give up. I also hope that the position will now return to “innocent until proven guilty”, both within the courts and in the media“.
“I wish to acknowledge the noble work of the Judge, the Jurors, the Court staff and the Sheriffs who have sacrificed their own time to get to this point, and to my diligent and unwavering legal team who did an extraordinary job in helping me to share the truth“.
“The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun“.
“Veritas numquam perit“.
“Truth never perishes“.
