Over the last few weeks, Americans have paid quite a bit of attention to the highly publicized defamation lawsuits filed by actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, against each other.
Depp originally sued Heard for defamation, seeking $50 million in damages, in relation to a 2018 Washington Post op-ed penned by his ex-wife, in which Heard personally described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” Heard did not mention her ex-husband by name in the WaPo piece, but Depp and his legal team assert that the op-ed was clearly in reference to the Pirates of the Caribbean star, and ultimately served to cost him numerous lucrative acting roles due to the accusations. Heard countersued her husband for $100 million over remarks made by Depp’s UK attorney, calling the Aquaman actor’s allegations a “Hoax.”
After a weeks-long trial in Fairfax, Virginia, the jury on the case reached a verdict today — finding that Amber Heard did defame Johnny Depp in 2 separate statements she made in the Washington Post piece. The jury also found that Depp’s attorney defamed Heard, on Johnny’s behalf, with the “Hoax” statement.
Ultimately, Depp “won” the case and was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million dollars in punitive damages, while the jury awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages and no money for punitive damages. Punitive damages are capped in the state of Virginia at $350,000, leading the judge to reduce the amount Depp received in punitive damages to the capped amount.
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On the heels of the verdict, the Edward Scissorhands actor released a statement saying:
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 humbled.
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.”
David Shane, a spokesman for Heard, confirmed that the actor plans to appeal the jury’s decision.
Featured image via screen capture
