After several weeks of trial and three days of deliberations, the jury already has its verdict on the case that involves two actors who have sued each other.
After almost two months of hearings, this Wednesday, June 1, a verdict was reached in the double trial that pits both Johnny Depp against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. The courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia (United States), became the most viewed building in the world, where witnesses in the case, as well as specialists, paraded one by one. After the verdict is read, the clear winner is Depp.
Minutes after the time indicated for reading the verdict, Judge Penney Azcarate summoned the lawyers of both parties to her bench, an indicator that there was a pending matter to be resolved. After that, the judge asked the jury, who had been present in the room, to return to deliberations; Well, they had to fill out forms indicating how much money the winner should receive as compensation.
This meant that one of the parties had won, it was just that, at the moment, it was unknown which one. We waited for the jury to return to begin the reading, which took a few minutes.
At approximately 2:20 p.m., GMT-5 time, the reading began. First, the verdict of Depp's complaint to Heard was developed; where the jury indicated, point by point, that all of Depp's accusations towards his ex-wife were true. When it was the turn of the countersuit against Depp, it was indicated that some of Heard's accusations were true.
The jury awarded Johnny Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. However, by state law, the judge reduced the punitive damages to only US$350,000. Heard must pay Depp. The jury awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages, which must be paid by Depp. Added and subtracted, Depp comes out on top. He takes out US$8 million 350 dollars.
After the verdict, Amber Heard released a statement on her social networks. “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. “It breaks my heart that the mountain of evidence was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and power of my ex-husband.”
“I am even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It's a step back. Turn back the clock to a time when the woman who spoke out and denounced could be publicly shamed and humiliated. “It pushes back the idea that violence against women should be taken seriously.”
The jury's verdict will be read at 2:00 p.m., GMT-5 time, and the presence of actress Amber Heard, the defendant, is expected. The plaintiff, Johnny Depp, indicated in a statement that he will not be in court due to previous commitments that keep him away from the country. He is in the UK.
As is known, Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife Amber Heard for defamation, for having written an opinion column in the American newspaper The Washington Post where he described himself as a “public figure who represents domestic abuse.” She did not mention the actor, but he still took it for granted. He is demanding a payment of US$50 million in compensation for what he considers damage to his Hollywood career.
Amber Heard, for her part, requested that the complaint be dismissed. However, the judge in charge of the case did not do so. In response, Heard filed a countersuit against Depp due to the statements of lawyer Adam Waldman, who described the actress's statements about her alleged mistreatment as a "hoax."
Over six weeks, Depp and Heard argued their case and answered the opposing party's interrogatories. He spoke from the actor's sister to the doctor who treated him when, he claimed, his then-wife cut his finger with a bottle; in an altercation that both had in Australia in 2015. Heard, for her part, has presented evidence of the physical attacks that, she indicates, Depp did to her; She also confirmed that she had been s---ally violated.
