Hollywood actress Amber Heard filed a discover of enchantment on Thursday of the $10 million defamation verdict {that a} Virginia jury awarded to her ex-husband and Hollywood star Johnny Depp. Heard’s attorneys had introduced that they’d enchantment instantly after the jury discovered on June 1 that she had defamed Depp by publishing an op-ed within the Washington Post through which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse, reports Variety. The jury held that the statement was false and was made with “actual malice.”Also Read – Amber Heard’s Insurance Company Refuses to Cover Her Damages, Claims Johnny Depp Was Willfully Defamed
“We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First Amendment,” Heard’s spokesperson mentioned on Thursday. “We are therefore appealing the verdict. While we realise today’s filing will ignite the Twitter bonfires, there are steps we need to take to ensure both fairness and justice.” Also Read – Amber Heard Moves Court Demanding Mistrial in Johnny Depp Defamation Case, Says Wrong Juror Sat in Jury
In response, Depp’s consultant mentioned that his group stays assured the decision will likely be upheld. Also Read – Amber Heard Moves Court to Dismiss Defamation Case Against Her, Alleges No Evidence to Back Johnny Depp Claim
“The jury listened to the extensive evidence presented during the six-week trial and came to a clear and unanimous verdict that the defendant herself defamed Mr. Depp, in multiple instances,” his spokesperson mentioned. “We remain confident in our case and that this verdict will stand.”
The jury discovered that three statements within the op-ed had been defamatory, and awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. The punitive damages award was then lowered to $350,000 to adjust to Virginia’s statutory cap.
The jury additionally discovered Depp responsible for an announcement made by his lawyer, Adam Waldman, through which he accused Heard of fabricating a “hoax”.
The jury ordered Depp to pay $2 million for that assertion.
According to Variety, Heard’s attorneys had beforehand requested Judge Penney Azcarate to put aside the decision for a number of causes, together with the allegation that one of many jurors confirmed as much as the trial regardless of by no means receiving a summons. Azcarate denied Heard’s request, discovering that she had waited too lengthy to lift her objection and had not proven she was denied a good trial.
With IANS inputs
