The decide within the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial made a jury’s award official Friday with a written order for Heard to pay Depp $10.35 million for damaging his popularity by describing herself as a home abuse sufferer in an op-ed piece she wrote.
Judge Penney Azcarate entered a judgment order into the courtroom report after a short listening to in Fairfax County Circuit Court. She additionally ordered Depp to pay Heard $2 million, the jury’s award on her counterclaim that Heard was defamed by one among Depp’s attorneys.
The order was a formality after the jury introduced its verdict on June 1, largely siding with Depp after a sensational trial through which the couple revealed lurid particulars of their quick marriage throughout a televised trial that was intently adopted on social media.
Depp sued Heard over a December 2018 op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post describing herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” The jury present in Depp’s favor on all three of his claims regarding particular statements within the 2018 piece.
The jury discovered Depp ought to obtain $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, however the decide decreased the punitive damages award to $350,000 below a state cap.
Heard has stated she plans to enchantment the decision.
During Friday’s listening to, the decide stated that if Heard appeals, she should publish a bond for the complete quantity of the $10.35 million award whereas the enchantment is pending — a typical follow. The decide’s order says each awards are topic to six% curiosity per 12 months.
