Jeni Watson
The jury verdict has been announced, and Johnny Depp appears to have a lot to be thrilled about.
The actor had filed a lawsuit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, for portraying him as a domestic abuser.
In Fairfax County, Virginia, he was successful on all three counts on which he sued Heard.
After winning his defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard, Johnny Depp is “at peace” and feels he has his “life back.”
“My life, the lives of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and the lives of those who have supported and believed in me for many, many years were all irrevocably changed six years ago.”
“It happened in the blink of an eye,” claimed the 58-year-old “Pirates of the Caribbean” star in a statement.
“Even though no charges were ever brought against me,” he claimed. “False, highly severe, and criminal allegations were made against me in the media, resulting in an unending onslaught of hostile information”. “It had already traveled around the world twice in a nanosecond, having a seismic impact on my life and job”.
“The jury handed me my life back six years later.” “I am in awe of you.”
“My choice to pursue this action, knowing very well the height of the legal barriers. I would be facing and the inevitable, global spectacle into my life, was only made after much contemplation,” Depp continued.
“My purpose throughout was to expose the truth, regardless of the outcome”. The “Edward Scissorhands” star stated, adding that “saying the truth” was something he owed his children and followers.
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“I’m relieved that I’ve finally accomplished that.”
“I also hope that the position will now return to innocent until proven guilty. Both inside the courts and in the media,” he said after thanking his fans for the “outpouring of love,” “colossal support,” and “compassion from around the world.”
“The best is yet to come,” he said, “and a new chapter has finally begun”. “Numquam permit veritas.” “The truth never dies.”
After over 13 hours of deliberation over three days. The seven-person jury in Fairfax, Virginia, reached a unanimous judgment on Wednesday.
They determined that Heard, 36, defamed Depp in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which she characterized herself as a victim of domestic violence.
Johnny Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive penalties.
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Heard, who was present when the judgment was read, had a small win of her own. The jury awarded her compensatory damages of $2 million but no punitive damages.
“I can’t express how disappointed I am today.
“I’m heartbroken that my ex-excessive husband’s power, influence, and sway were not enough to overcome the mountain of evidence,” the “Aquaman” actress said in a statement on Wednesday.
“I’m much more dissatisfied with the implications of this decision for other women”.
“It turns the clock back to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publically humiliated and shamed. It undermines the notion that women’s violence should be taken seriously.”
“I believe Johnny’s counsel was successful in convincing the jury to overlook the essential issue of Freedom of Speech and to disregard evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK,” she continued.
This is a case I’m disappointed I didn’t win. But what makes me even more upset is that I appear to have lost a privilege that I thought I had as an American: the liberty to speak freely and honestly.”
Depp first sued Heard for $50 million, alleging that her essay harmed his reputation and career.
Heard responded with a $100 million countersuit, claiming that Depp’s attorney publicly stated she had made up the abuse allegations.
Amber Heard expresses disappointment as Johnny Depp rejoices over the defamation judgment.
The jury judgment is now in, and it appears that Johnny Depp has a lot to be happy about.
The actor sued his ex-wife, Amber Heard, for presenting him as a domestic violence culprit in Fairfax County, Virginia. He has won on all three counts on which he sued her.
Despite the mixed ruling, Depp was overjoyed with his victory and stated that the US jury had given him back his life by siding with him. The jury decided the ex-couple had bot after a six-week trial.
The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star took to Instagram to say that his life and the lives of his loved ones were forever changed ‘in the blink of an eye six years ago.
According to the actor, he was charged with serious and criminal offenses via the media, which had a “seismic impact” on his life and profession.
“I owed it to my children and those who have stood by my side during this ordeal, to tell the truth. I’m relieved that I’ve finally gotten it done “Following the verdict, Depp issued an Instagram statement.
Depp had already lost a libel case in London in 2020 against The Sun tabloid, in which he was dubbed a “wife-beater.”
This time, though, he sees the jury verdict as proof of his innocence. Heard, his ex-wife, on the other hand, is ‘heartbroken.’
“The disappointment I feel today is beyond words,” the ‘Aquaman’ actress wrote on Instagram.
“I’m heartbroken that the weight of evidence was insufficient to overcome my ex-enormous husband’s power, influence, and persuasion.”
“I’m even more dissatisfied with the implications of this decision for other women. It’s a stumbling block.”
“It turns the clock back to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publically humiliated and shamed.”
“It undermines the notion that women’s violence should be taken seriously.”
The Decision of Jurors
The five-man, two-woman jury unanimously found Heard responsible for all three charges of defamation against Johnny Depp.
Also awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive penalties after deliberating for three days.
Punitive damages in Virginia are capped at $350,000, thus the total award is $10.35 million.
Heard, 36, won only one of the three counterclaims she filed against Johnny Depp. And the jury awarded her compensatory damages — albeit for a considerably smaller sum of $2 million.
Depp, who has been in England for a few days, was absent in court for the decision in the high-profile case featuring graphic allegations and counterclaims of domestic abuse between the Hollywood stars.
However, in a statement released on Instagram, he expressed his gratitude for the decision, which earned millions of “likes.”
A small crowd of bystanders and Depp fans gathered for the verdict outside the courthouse in the scorching heat, including one man wearing a Captain Jack Sparrow pirate helmet.
A Depp supporter raised a placard that read: “Johnny, regardless of what happens today, you are a winner!!! And the entire world is aware of the TRUTH!!!”
Depp sued Heard in December 2018 after she penned an article for The Washington Post in which she defined herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
Although the jury may have returned a mixed decision. Depp has been found not guilty on all counts in the court of popular opinion.
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