A televised trial featuring Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has ended with the jury ruling that Amber Heard claimed she was abused by the Pirates of the Caribbean star.
The jury also confirmed in favor of heard In which she claimed that Johnny’s lawyer had caused defamation for the Aquaman actor by calling her allegations false.
Following the verdict of the defamation suit, both Depp and Heard were directed to pay some amount in damages.
Hurd was directed to pay $15 million (approx. 116 crores), while Depp was ordered to pay $2 million (just over . 15 crores).
However, Johnny’s initial lawsuit against Amber was for $50 million (plus .) 387 crores) while Amber countered him for $100 million (more than . 775 crores).
Let’s understand why the charges were reduced after the seven-week trial.
understanding the matter
depp and heard The wedding took place in February 2015 in a civil ceremony. Heard filed for divorce in May 2016 and obtained a temporary restraining order against Depp, alleging that he was verbally and physically abusive throughout their relationship, usually under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Depp denied these claims and alleged that she was “attempting to obtain a financial settlement prematurely”.
Johnny Depp has sued Amber Heard, alleging that he defames her when she described herself as a victim of domestic abuse in a 2018 op-ed. Washington Post,
Amber Heard countered Depp by saying that he slandered her when he called her a liar and called his claims a ‘hoax’.
Both alleged that they faced abuse at the hands of each other during their two-year marriage.
Is the jury’s decision a victory for Depp?
The jury found both Heard and Depp guilty of defamation. However, the verdict has been seen as a victory for the latter. The jury found Heard guilty on three counts and Depp on only one.
According to the jury’s decision, Amber defamed Johnny as an abuser, made statements ‘with genuine malice’, a major offense involving public figures.
In Amber’s counterclaim against Johnny, the jury ruled in two out of three cases, Amber’s legal team was not able to prove ‘all elements of defamation’. Johnny was convicted on only one count.
In his statement, Johnny thanked the jurors for ‘giving their lives back’. Amber, on the other hand, said that she was ‘heartbroken’ as she ‘lost the case’.
Determination of compensatory and penal charges
In the US legal system, the jury determines the amount of damages based on the facts of the case and its discretion.
Since Amber was found guilty in all three cases, he was ordered to pay a large sum of money in damages.
The ruling split the damages into two parts – compensatory and punitive.
According to a lecturer in Cornell University’s legal department, the purpose of compensatory damages is to compensate the affected party for the loss. Punitive damages are given to punish a wrongdoer.
In this case, Amber was ordered to pay $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Johnny was ordered to pay $2 million in compensatory damages and zero in punitive damages.
Damages to be Paid by Depp and Heard
In Virginia, punitive damages in civil lawsuits $350,000 ( 2.7 crore) max. Therefore, actor Amber Heard only has to pay $10.35 million (just more) 80 million) from a total of $15 million ( 116 crore) has been asked to pay him in damages.
However, Johnny made no punitive charges, claiming that he would pay $2 million ( 15 crores).
That being said, reports have emerged that Heard is set to challenge the Virginia Court’s decision in the High Court. If this happens, no payment will be made until the High Court gives the result of the appeal of the Hurd.