Johnny Depp Wins Defamation Case Against Amber Heard
The Jury on Wednesday reached a unanimous decision in the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard Case. Johnny Depp has won his lawsuit against Amber Heard.
New Delhi: The jury on Wednesday reached a unanimous decision in the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard Case in favour of the Pirates of the Caribbean actor. Johnny Depp won his lawsuit against Amber Heard after the jury ruled that The Washington Post article published in 2018 was defamatory. The jury found that Heard's statements about her marriage were "false" and she acted with "actual malice". Johnny Depp was awarded total compensation of $15 million ($10m in compensatory damages and $5m in punitive damages).
The jury also ruled that Johnny Depp defamed Amber Heard - but it was through his attorney, Adam Waldman, and only in one of three counts. She was awarded $2m in compensatory damages and nothing in punitive damages.
The jury reached its verdict after six weeks of trial in Fairfax County, Virginia, USA.
The trail has been grabbing the headlines since it started on April 11 and has led to many debates, discussions, people taking sides, and meme fest. Every aspect of their married life was dissected during the court proceedings that were streamed live.
Johnny Depp had sued Amber Heard for $50 million over an opinion piece she wrote in The Washington Post. In the opinion piece, she had claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse. While she never mentioned Depp, the actor’s lawyers claim that it damaged his career and reputation.
Amber argued that she is shielded, or "immune," from liability because her 2018 op-ed on domestic violence dealt with a matter of public concern.
Amber Heard countersued for $100 million against Depp in 2021 and claimed she was only ever violent with Depp in self-defense.
Here is a timeline of their tumultuous relationship and court battle:
2009: Johnny Depp and Amber Heard met
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard met in 2009 on the sets of ‘The Rum Diary’. At the time Johnny was in a long-term relationship with French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis.
2012: Amber and Johnny started dating
They started dating in 2012 Depp and Heard begin dating and the same year, Depp and long-term partner Vanessa Paradis end their 14-year relationship.
2015: The couple got married
In February 2015, Heard and Depp get married in a private ceremony in their home in LA. In the same year, the couple was charged with bringing their two dogs into Australia without declaring. The couple posted an apology video later.
2016: Amber Heard filed for divorce and got a restraining order against him
In 2016, Amber Heard filed for divorce and also got a restraining order against Depp stating that the actor was abusive throughout their marriage.
2017: Divorce was finalised
A settlement was reached in court and Amber withdrew her request for the restraining order and the divorce was finalised in Jan 2017. Heard received 7 million US dollars as part of their divorce settlement.
Their statement said, "Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm."
2018: Amber’s Op-ed in The Washington Post, Depp sues British newspaper Sun
Amber wrote The Washington Post op-ed in 2018 calling herself a victim of domestic abuse. Johnny Depp was not mentioned in the op-ed. She wrote, “Then two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out."
Depp sued the British newspaper The Sun for calling him a ‘wife-beater’
2019: Depp sues Amber for defamation
Depp sued Amber Heard for defamation in 2019 claiming that she is not the victim of domestic violence instead she is the perpetrator. Depp’s lawyers claimed that the op-ed damaged his career and reputation.
2020: Depp loses his case against the Sun
The three-week trial began in July 2020 and Judge Andrew Nicol ruled in favour of The Sun in November 2020. The judge ruled that Johnny Depp had repeatedly assaulted Amber and put her in fear for her life. Judge Andrew Nicol upheld 12 of the 14 alleged assaults against Amber by Depp.
The actor was also asked to exit the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise after he lost the case.
2021: Heard countersued Depp for $100 million
Heard countersued Depp for $100 million in January 2021.
2022: Defamation trial begins
The defamation trial began on April 11, 2022, in Fairfax County, Virginia, USA. The trial continued for six weeks.
The Jury gives its verdict and Johnny Depp wins the defamation case on June 1.
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