Johnny Depp won his defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard, awarded $15 million, but after deductions, the amount totaled $8.35 million, as attorneys for the actress say she cannot pay and now faces financial and career ruin.
Johnny Depp awarded $15 million compensation in defamation suit
The jury in the trial for the defamation lawsuit Johnny Depp brought against his ex-wife Amber Heard ruled in the actor’s favor, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages and another $5 million in punitive damages.
However, the judge reduced the punitive damages to the Virginia maximum of $350,000, leaving Depp with an award of $10.35 million, the Daily Mail reported.
Reducing Depp’s compensation further, the jury ruled in favor of Heard on one of her three countersuit claims, awarding her $2 million in compensatory damages. Heard was not awarded any punitive damages.
After the reductions, Depp’s compensation totaled $8.35 million.
Amber Heard unable to pay and facing career and financial ruin, her attorney say
Following the verdict, Amber Heard’s Elaine Charlson Bredhoft is “absolutely not” able to pay the $8.35 million in damages she now owes Johnny Depp, the Daily Mail reported.
At the same time, experts are suggesting that there is “no way back for Heard in Hollywood,” predicting the court battle has left the 36-year-old actress “too icky for a studio,” which could spell career ruin.
An attorney who spoke to CBS MoneyWatch said Depp is “in the driver seat right now.” The attorney said Heard will still have to present the full amount while any appeal is considered. If Depp forces her to pay the full bill, it could force her into bankruptcy. A third option could be that her future earnings might be garnished.
Some speculate that Heard will be forced to sell off some of her assets, which includes a $570,000 rural hideaway in Yucca Valley and a Range Rover she kept in the divorce from Depp.
“Truth never perishes.” Depp says he has “his life back.”
Depp was not present when the final verdict was delivered, as he was on tour in the UK with guitar legend Jeff Beck, but he made statements regarding the outcome.
“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,” Depp said in a statement provided to the New York Post. “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,” Depp continued. “And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.”
“From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome,” Depp added. “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.”
“The best is yet to come, and a new chapter has finally begun. Veritas numquam perit,” Depp concluded. “Truth never perishes.”
