American actress Amber Heard has recently been spending more and more time in courtrooms instead of on set. At the heart of the fight are her claims that she was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her ex-husband Johnny Depp. The Hollywood star categorically denies and set out to prove his right by filing defamation lawsuits in Great Britain and the United States, BTA writes.
The next episode of the legal saga unfolded days ago, when it became clear that Heard (36) asked to annul the decision of the court in Fairfax, Virginia, from the beginning of June this year, by which she and Depp ( 59) were found guilty of mutual defamation.
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According to the verdict, the actress must pay her ex-spouse $15 million in damages, but due to peculiarities of state law in Virginia, the actual amount amounts to just over $10 million. Depp’s bank account will decrease by two million US dollars. This is the conclusion of the jurors in the trial, which lasted six weeks and brought to the public space spicy details of the private life of the broken star family. The actress announced her intention to appeal.
The defense of Amber Heard, who admitted she cannot pay the amount owed, is pushing for a new trial because of an identified problem with one of the jurors. However, a motion to overturn the original decision and schedule a new trial was rejected by a judge.
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For more than two years, the actress, who participated in the fantasy production “Aquaman”, has been touring courtrooms on two continents – in Europe and in North America, after declaring herself a victim of domestic violence.
The couple experienced a high-profile divorce in early 2017, after a marriage that lasted just 15 months. After the family split, Heard complained of “years of abuse” – physical and mental. Allegations that Johnny Depp has repeatedly denied, even insisting in court appearances that he was the victim.
In 2018, the British tabloid “The Sun” called the Hollywood actor a “woman beater” in its article because of the ex-wife’s claims. So Heard also turned out to be a key witness during the subsequent trial at the High Court in London. Johnny Depp has filed a defamation suit against The Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers, and editor-in-chief Dan Wootton.
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In between, Depp’s lawyers also filed a lawsuit in the US, but the defendant is Amber Heard personally because of her publication in the “Washington Post”. And in it, she presents herself as a public figure, a victim of domestic violence – a topic to which the material is devoted. Johnny Depp’s name is not mentioned, but he believes that his ex-wife is indirectly defaming him. The actor categorically denies that he abused her. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star estimated the damage caused by these remarks at $50 million. Convinced of her right, Amber Heard filed a counterclaim, demanding twice as much compensation – $100 million.
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During the hearings, the courtrooms in both London and Fairfax turned into real theater stages, and those present watched with interest the performances given by the ex-husbands. Heavy accusations were hurled, confessions were made, tears were shed, there were angry outbursts…
The High Court in London dismissed Depp’s defamation claim against the British tabloid The Sun. The judge found the allegations in the article to be “substantially true” — a victory, albeit an indirect one, for Amber Heard. The Hollywood actor tried to appeal, but in vain.
However, the US court’s decision tipped the scales in favor of Johnny Depp, prompting his ex-wife’s legal team to seek a way to overturn the decision. This attempt has so far failed.
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The trials, which took place with great public interest, also led to other lawsuits indirectly related to the relationship between the ex-spouses. An insurance company has asked a California court to rule on whether it should pay Amber Heard policy benefits after she lost her lawsuit in Fairfax. An insurance policy signed in 2019 provides the actress with liability protection for up to one million US dollars. The company insists it has no duty to Heard because, according to the provision, “the insurer shall not be liable for loss caused by the insured’s willful act.”
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The actress could also face legal trouble in Australia, where she is still under investigation that began in 2015 for perjury over the illegal importation of her pets, Pistol and Boo, into the country. Local legislation requires mandatory quarantine for animals entering the country, but this was not followed. Heard then pleaded guilty to falsifying travel documents, paid a $1,000 fine and publicly apologized for her behavior in a video featuring Depp. It was believed that this was enough, but the investigation is again relevant after new data on the case became known in the course of the trial in Great Britain.
Thus, Amber Heard may end up in a courtroom on a third continent – in Australia. According to the publication “Mirror”, she is preparing to write a memoir in which she will tell the whole truth about her relationship with Johnny Depp. The actress, who is said to have already signed a contract for the book, is hoping to use the proceeds to eventually pay her ex-husband compensation.
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