The Implausible Beasts and The place to Discover Them actor filed a lawsuit in opposition to the Aquaman actress over a 2018 article she wrote for The Washington Submit about her home abuse expertise.
Within the op-ed, titled: ‘I spoke up in opposition to sexual violence — and confronted our tradition’s wrath. That has to vary,’ Heard, 36, didn't point out Depp, 58, by identify however his authorized group argued that it implied he was bodily and sexually abusive in the direction of her throughout their marriage, which he vehemently denied.
Heard later filed a countersuit in opposition to her former husband, who she married in 2015 earlier than divorcing two years later.
Following a bombshell six-week trial, a seven-person jury introduced their verdict on Wednesday after 13 hours of deliberations, discovering that the statements made by Heard have been defamatory in opposition to him and awarded compensatory and punitive damages.
Depp filed the lawsuit searching for damages of $50m from Heard, who in flip countersued for $100m.
Nevertheless, the jury awarded Depp $10m (£8m) in compensatory damages and an extra $5m (£4m) in punitive damages making for a complete of $15m.
Heard was additionally awarded $2m in compensatory damages, whereas receiving zero in punitive damages.
Nevertheless, Choose Penney Azcarate lowered Depp’s $5m punitive damages to as an alternative award $350,000, which is the utmost in Virginia, bringing Depp’s whole all the way down to $10,350,000.
He additionally has to pay Heard the $2m in compensatory damages she was awarded, so he subsequently walks away with $8.35m in damages.
Each Depp and Heard launched statements reacting to the decision simply moments after the jury’s resolution was introduced.
The Rum Diary actress Heard stated she was ‘disenchanted’ within the jury’s resolution and ‘what it means for girls’.
She added: ‘It's a setback. It units again the clock to a time when a girl who spoke up and spoke out might be publicly shamed and humiliated. It units again the concept that violence in opposition to girls is to be taken severely.
‘I imagine Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to miss the important thing situation of Freedom of Speech and ignore proof that was so conclusive that we received within the UK.
‘I’m unhappy I misplaced this case. However I'm sadder nonetheless that I appear to have misplaced a proper I assumed I had as an American – to talk freely and brazenly.’
Depp didn't attend the court docket listening to in Fairfax, Virginia, however as an alternative frolicked with musicians Sam Fender and Jeff Beck at a pub in Newcastle.
In his prolonged assertion, shared to his Instagram web page, he stated partially: ‘False, very critical and prison allegations have been levied at me through the media, which triggered an limitless barrage of hateful content material, though no prices have been ever introduced in opposition to me.
‘It had already travelled world wide twice inside a nanosecond and it had a seismic influence on my life and my profession.
‘And 6 years later, the jury gave me my life again. I'm really humbled.’
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