Jury finds both Amber Heard and Johnny Depp liable for defamation

[Noahv]

Source: CNN

A jury has found both Amber Heard and Johnny Depp liable for defamation in their lawsuits against each other.

Depp sued Heard, his ex-wife, for defamation over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse." Though Depp was not named in the article, he claims it cost him lucrative acting roles. Heard countersued her ex-husband for defamation over statements Depp's attorney made about her abuse claims.
Weighing the claims, a jury found that both of the exes defamed each other.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/01/entertainment/johnny-depp-amber-heard-verdict/index.html

---

Turns out they were both liars.

[mysteryowl]

1. I think the whole thing is tragic and toxic

We now know that Depp is an addict/alcoholic and Amber is not well mentally.
They should never have brought this public. I don't think there are any winners, only loss.
I hope they both get help.

And no, I don't believe they will be rehired for movies. There is too much drama and it might affect sales, which is what the big players like Disney think about.

[Warpy]

11. She's been diagnosed as borderline personality

They can respond to treatment but untreated, they're pure hell:

"You fucked up again! You can't do anything right! I hate you! NOOOOO don't leave! I can't LIVE without you! I'll kill myself if you go!" and so on and so forth until the other person packs a bag and walks out. Then it can turn to stalking..

Depp came off as utterly clueless and lost in a fog of booze and drugs and completely ignorant of how to cope with his wife.

I hope they're each awarded a dollar in damages. I hope she continues in treatment and I hope he gets off booze and drugs. None of this is likely to happen.

The best outcome for these two is if they're never on the same continent at the same time. Oh, and they just fade away as celebs.

[littlemissmartypants]

43. Amber's is owning him $ 8.5 mil as it stands now which is going to be hard for her

Since she's only worth about $ 7 mil.

DU has been too much for me lately so I decided to do a deep dive into celebrity gossip which has been quite the education.

So, I'm back now for my politics cleanse. I probably won't be going there again, at least not any time soon.

❤

[Warpy]

46. The large amounts always get overturned on appeal

and unless Depp's as nuts as she is, he's not going to want the contact that taking installment payments from her would entail.

I actually grit my teeth and read the judgment and it seems she's guilty of 3 counts, he's only guilty of one, so she owes him $3 and he'll owe her a dollar if there is any real justice on appeal.

I can't say I paid close attention but it was impossible to avoid over the last few weeks. They both got eviscerated in court by their nearest and dearest. Two sickos found each other and created hell on earth. Good thing they spent most of their marriage out of this country or one of them would be shot dead by the other.

[littlemissmartypants]

48. Do you really think that there will be an appeal?

I could see her wanting to but I don't think Depp is interested in going that route. He just wanted to "clear his name" supposedly.

She's so defiant and argumentative she's really her own worst enemy. I hope she gets help. I'm actually worried about her. She has a baby daughter now, too.

He, on the other hand, is apparently an alcoholic and drug addicted so he's due for a reckoning. He already looks like he has ascites to me.

She still owes those pledged donations to the ACLU and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. So, I'm hoping whatever Depp should get he'd make a donation to the hospital. That's one of the causes he supports already since his daughter almost died from sepsis years ago.

Thanks for the reply, Warpy. I really didn't expect one. I really appreciate it. ❤

[Warpy]

55. She doesn't have the money and there's no way he'll pay her a dime

although he'd be wise to pay her therapy bills, it's the only way he'll be rid of her, if she stays in therapy.

Depp looks like shit, but he's 58 and Father Time is one mean son of a bitch. One hopes that if he's rid of her, he'll get clean and sober, that movie franchise won;t go on without him.

[AngryOldDem]

34. +1

Tragic and toxic, indeed.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Hardly breaking since I already answered another thread on this.

[mysteryowl]

4. That's okay. It is the first time being posted in LBN.

LBN is a go-to for many people.

[Kali]

3. not really

VERY misleading headline

[TheRickles]

10. Yes. He was awarded $15 million, she was awarded $2 million.

[Kali]

26. and 5 of that 15 was PUNITIVE

she got NO punitive damages (by statute in Virginia he can only get 350K but jury didn't "know" that)

[C Moon]

25. Agreed

[groundloop]

5. As others have said, now we can start worrying about mass shootings, the overturn of Roe, etc. etc.

[patricia92243]

6. Johnny is making a PR mistake. He needs to get on the air thru Skype, etc

and thank the jury, his lawyers, and witnesses.

Another good PR move on his part would be to "forgive" the amount of money Amber is to pay him. He has said over and over it is not about the money.

[apcalc]

8. That would be honorable.

Doubt it’ll happen.

I don’t want to hear about either one of them ever again. Certainly I will never support any of their endeavors.

[Mr.Bill]

13. I agree. n/t

[BillyBobBrilliant]

7. I don't understand

Why there was so much interest in this whole thing.
I'm pretty sure I have never seen anything she has been in.
And I stopped watching his performances decades in the past -- unimpressed with him.

[mysteryowl]

9. Depp is a hugh star. Adults and kids watch his movies.

Many people want to know the inner life of big stars.

Personally, I did not watch the trial. I saw two clips and I was fine with that. I didn't want to see anymore.

[cstanleytech]

19. Was a huge star.

He certainly has not been the star of any blockbuster movies for a few years.
That's not to say he is washed up as he certainly can spring back though it will probably be a long road that he will have to travel.

[Skittles]

16. I don't either

it's pretty fucking sad, these rich assholes and their public drama, and people who think it is worth watching

[Kali]

30. I partly agree with you

I got caught up in it as I have a bit of a "court" addiction (been on a couple of juries, one kind of high profile) and there are some serious issues involved - mental illness, domestic abuse and sexual abuse allegations and the way "we" deal with them in our culture, allegations can be ignored for so many victims and on the other hand they can ruin lives when false allegations are made, especially against men.

I watched a lot of the trial, partly for escape (gossip/soap opera) I admit, but there were serious things involved too and just learning how the system works or not is fascinating too.

and now reading headlines that have no bearing in reality is yet another "lesson" to observe how media manipulates us all.

[oldsoftie]

23. Celebrity. People can't help themselves. Look at the Kardashians. Trash who make millions.

Famous for doing absolutely nothing unless you consider screwing anyone who walks in front of you an accomplishment. Not to mention their effect on young girls.
Depp has hundreds of women waiting outside for hours just to get a glimpse. If he wasn't an actor he'd Probably be holding a sign outside a Walmart. And ALL of those women savage Amber Heard in public and on the internet.
I guess #metoo became: "I BELIEVE HER!! (unless he's a famous actor...)"

[ZonkerHarris]

12. The lawyers won!

[littlemissmartypants]

44. The truth. Nothing but the truth. So help me dog. 🐕

[FSogol]

14. Wait, does this mean they aren't getting back together?

[njhoneybadger]

15. Didn't she drop a deuce in the bed.

Probably didn't help her case.

[Noahv]

17. He was liable for defamation

So yeah both had weak cases.

[Hav]

18. How can you even say that?

The jury agreed with him on all his defamatory claims in regards to sexual abuse. They came to the conclusion that she lied about it and acted with malice. The jury agreed with her on only one of her claims that the lawyer's statement that she planned to trash the house to stage it for the police was defamatory. That was all she had on her side while he basically cleared his name in court.

[Noahv]

20. You mean....How can CNN say that?

"Jury finds both Amber Heard and Johnny Depp liable for defamation"
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/01/entertainment/johnny-depp-amber-heard-verdict/index.html

[Hav]

21. I watched the verdict

But you said that both had weak cases and the jury's decision obviously tells a different story. They sided with him on all his claims. The difference in awarded damages is also telling.

[chowder66]

22. The jury awarded Depp $10 mil plus $5 mil for punitive damages. $2 mil for Heard and $0 in punitive

damages.

I thought I heard at the end of the trial that the $2 mil for Heard will be deducted but I'm not sure. I can't find a recording of that just yet.

So that would be abt. $8.35 mil awarded to Depp. Nearly the cost of what he had to pay out to Heard from the U.K. trial which was $7 mil.

The jury awarded him $5 million for punitive damages but VA law caps punitive to $350k which the judge mentioned at the end of the verdict. The jury was unanimous and found that every question asked of them regarding Depp's suit was proven.

As for Heard they did not find everything was proven and it seems the gist of the defamation case was based on Depp's ex-lawyer making statements in the Daily Mail and online.

[Kali]

28. I think the 7 was the divorce settlement

that she pledged/"donated" (not) to charity

[chowder66]

33. Ah thanks

[catsudon]

38. cnn made a mistake and have a new headline

"Legal victory for Johnny Depp after he and Amber Heard found liable for defamation"
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/01/entertainment/johnny-depp-amber-heard-verdict/index.html

personally, hoping the rumor about beetlejuice 2 is true, can't wait to see it

[Doc Sportello]

29. No the jury finding was based on his lawyer's words

Not what Depp said, so legally the case was brought against him, but he wasn't the one found to be lying.

[Polybius]

45. And she was liable for defecation

[Loki Liesmith]

54. His lawyer defamed Heard in one specific instance

Not Depp.

Your interpretation of the judgement is ill-informed.

[867-5309.]

24. I don't know what this was about

and I'm glad about that. Now get off my lawn.

[MaryMagdaline]

27. I found him to be so revolting during the trial. Cannot watch him ever again.

He should have kept his private life private, whatever was left of it. As for Amber Heard, she will always be known for s—-ing the bed. What an image. Can’t believe they brought this Jerry Springer show public.

[SunSeeker]

32. +1

[catchnrelease]

47. It was made public on purpose

Depp asked that it be open to the public so that people could see for themselves how Heard behaved/behaves. Supposedly she had opposed it being open but I guess since he brought the case it was his choice. Her performance on the stand was really something to behold.

[SunSeeker]

31. This will have a terrible chilling effect on reporting by domestic violence victims.

As well as sexual harassment victims.

[Sparkly]

35. That's the sad part.

WaPo republished her Op-Ed. I haven't followed the court drama, but she never mentioned his name or any graphic details -- just that publicly advocating for victims of violence delivered a backlash to her career. Clearly, just saying that in an Op-Ed delivered a much worse backlash, so her point was WELL-proven.

Women are better off staying quiet.

[Hav]

37. Who was she talking about when she alleged domestic abuse and referred to

calling out sexual violence? Was she married to someone else at the time? She also testified that she wrote it because he was a powerful man.
That was a major part of the decision the jury had to make: Where the statements defamatory, intended, false, would other people reading it interpret the statements as defamatory and did she act with actual malice. The jury agreed unanimously.

It's not the advocacy for victims at all that is hurting her career. Besides being a bad actor, it's that most don't believe her lies.

[SunSeeker]

41. The jury found her general statements advocating for abuse victims defamatory. That was wrong.

Depp’s claim centered on three statements contained in an op-ed Heard wrote for The Washington Post on Dec. 18, 2018:

The first statement was the headline, which read, “Amber Heard: I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change.”

Then, within the op-ed, was the second statement: “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.”

And the third: “I had the rare vantage point of seeing, in real time, how institutions protect men accused of abuse.”

For every one of those statements, Depp had to prove each of these elements by a preponderance of evidence:

1. That it was “false.”

2. That it communicated to someone else something “defamatory” and that it was “about” Depp.

3. That Heard intended it to be defamatory.

4. Then, by clear and convincing evidence (a higher burden), Depp had to prove that Heard made the defamatory statement either knowing it was false or was highly aware it was probably false. 

Let’s start with the first statement, which is the headline. As someone who writes articles for news organizations, like the one you’re reading right now, I can tell you that I never write the headline. Never. I don’t even suggest one. I don’t know if that’s some trade secret I’m not supposed to tell. I guess we’ll know if my editor has left these sentences in this article you’re reading right now. 

In my mind, the first statement should have been thrown out because Heard likely didn’t write the headline. Indeed, Heard’s legal team maintained she didn’t write it. But the jurors did not throw it out at all; they found it defamatory. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/amp/rcna31510

[Sparkly]

42. I don't know, but the lesson is that SHE paid the price, three or four times over.

If there was abuse in their relationship, there was that time.

She joined causes to speak out on violence against women, and that torpedoed her career.

She wrote an Op-Ed saying something needs to change when calling out violence against women can wreck your career, and she was sued for defamation.

She lost the defamation suit in court and in public opinion, owing $15 million and apparently never having a chance to work again or to atone.

Maybe she can write a salacious book.

[paleotn]

36. So they're both guilty. Ok.....

Whatever. Can news outlets start focusing on things that are actually important, instead of wasting time on this meaningless drivel? At least until the next "Ooooo...shiny!"

[OnlinePoker]

40. No names from Ghislaine Maxwell, yet.

Press did virtually no digging or reporting on that trial.

[Demnation]

49. Seriosuly, does anyone give a shit about this?

[Paladin]

52. I haven't watched or read a single thing about it.

Regrets or second thoughts? None.

[Roy Rolling]

50. Okay

So what interest does a government (who run the court system) have in spending million$ and weeks in court deciding their lover’s spat?

I don’t know the solution but I think I’ve identified the problem.

As a taxpayer, I want my cut of revenue generated by the court proceeding by paparazzi media. If I produce the show, I want a cut of the box office revenue.

[twodogsbarking]

51. I hope they both live long happy lives and

I never hear about either of them again.

[boyedav1969]

53. I'm curious as to who pays the lawyer fees and court costs

Often times in civil cases, the losing party has to pay the legal fees of the other party, plus court costs. I've not read anything yet indicating how that works in this case.

[BrightKnight]

62. I believe a home owners policy paid her legal fees.

Given that there is malice and probably a policy limit she will probably have to pay the fine out of pocket. The debt cannot be discharged with bankruptcy because there is malice.

I don’t believe they can claim legal fees in this case for some reason. IDK, I think it had something to do the SLAPP law not applying in this case.

I think that the payment will delayed for a couple of years until she looses the appeal.

[Joinfortmill]

60. Not exactly accurate...

Jury found Heard defamed Depp with malice. Depp awarded by Jury 10 mil in damages. 5 mil for malice. Jury found an attorney of Depp's defamed Heard without malice.Heard awarded 2 mil. Heard also lied repeatedly.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

61. OMG glad it's over.

On Depp: You'd think a real life actor would be better at feigning a candid recounting of that over which he brought suit.
On Heard: Came across to me as I'm suing cause I was sued.

My conclusion: Depp hurt the industry's opinion of his acting abilities in testifying more than his ex's article ever could.