Minutes after a jury awarded Johnny Depp $15 million in damages and Amber Heard $2 million of their defamation lawsuits, Heard posted an announcement on Instagram.
The jury determined Heard was responsible for defaming Depp in a 2018 op-ed printed within the Washington Put up. In addition they determined Depp was responsible for an announcement his lawyer made calling Heard's claims of home violence a hoax. Whereas it was a blended verdict, Depp was awarded more cash, and Heard mentioned she felt "disappointment" within the end result.
"The frustration I really feel right this moment is past phrases," Heard wrote in her assertion. "I am heartbroken that the mountain of proof nonetheless was not sufficient to face as much as the disproportionate energy, affect and sway of my ex husband."
The 36-year-old mentioned she is much more dissatisfied in "what this verdict means for ladies," calling it a "setback."
"It units again the clock to a time when a lady who spoke up and spoke up might be publicly shamed and humiliated," she mentioned. "It units again the concept violence towards ladies must be taken severely."
"I consider Johnny's attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to miss the important thing subject of Freedom of Speech and ignore proof that was so conclusive that we gained within the U.Ok.," Heard mentioned. In 2020, Depp sued the Solar newspaper and its father or mother firm within the U.Ok. after it printed an article that referred to as him a "spouse beater," BBC Information studies.
In that case, Heard gave proof to the court docket and a judged in the end dominated the article to be "considerably true," saying he discovered 12 of 14 alleged incidents of home violence occurred.
In her assertion concerning the current case, Heard mentioned she was unhappy she misplaced. "However I'm sadder nonetheless that I appeared to have misplaced a proper I believed I had as an American — to talk freely and brazenly."
The dramatic trial started in Fairfax, Virginia in April. Depp sued his ex-wife for $50 million over the op-ed, printed in The Washington Put up in December 2018. Within the op-ed, Heard described herself as "a public determine representing home abuse." Depp's legal professionals say he was defamed by the article despite the fact that it by no means talked about his title.
Each Depp and Heard alleged of their testimony the opposite had abused them.
Following the decision, Depp additionally posted an announcement on Instagram, writing, "The jury gave me my life again."
Whereas the jury mentioned Depp ought to obtain $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, the choose mentioned state regulation caps punitive damages at $350,000, that means Depp's award would whole $10.35 million.