Actress Amber Heard is “absolutely not” able to pay ex-husband Johnny Depp more than $10 million in damages, her lawyer said on Thursday, after the Pirates of the Caribbean star prevailed in a bitter defamation case that Heard plans to appeal.
The high-profile court battle ended on Wednesday, with the jury finding that both stars had defamed each other — but Depp was awarded millions more in damages.
The jury awarded Depp $10m in compensatory damages and $5m in punitive damages, though Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Penney Azcarate reduced the punitive damages to $350,000, the state's legal limit, bringing the actor's total damages $10.4m, NBC reported.
Asked on NBC's Today show if Heard would be able to pay, her lawyer Elaine Charlson Bredehoft said: “Oh no, absolutely not.”
Ms Bredehoft added that Heard plans to appeal the decision.
“She has excellent grounds for it,” she said.
The lawyer added that Depp's legal team attempted to “demonise” the Aquaman star and suppress evidence during the trial.
Depp sued ex-wife Heard over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which she called herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse”. Depp was not named in the column, but said it caused him to lose out on lucrative acting gigs. He sought $50m in damages.
Heard countersued for $100m, saying a lawyer for Depp had defamed her by telling The Daily Mail her claims of abuse were a “hoax”.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star celebrated Wednesday's verdict, saying: “The jury gave me my life back.”
Heard's lawyer said the decision marked a significant setback for the #MeToo movement and would prevent other women from reporting domestic abuse.
“It's a significant setback because that's exactly what it means. Unless you pull out your phone and you video your spouse or your significant other beating you, effectively, you won't be believed,” Ms Bredehoft said.
In her own statement on Wednesday, Heard called the decision a setback for women.
“I'm heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband,” Heard said.
Agence-France Presse contributed to this report
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Christina Taft holds up poster in support of actress Amber Heard outside the Fairfax County Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia. Willy Lowry / The National -
Fans of actor Johnny Depp try to take his picture through a gate at the courthouse. Willy Lowry / The National -
Tina Rhinehart, dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, came to the courthouse to show her support for Depp. Willy Lowry / The National -
Two fans of Depp hold signs showing their support outside the courthouse. Willy Lowry / The National -
Andrea Diaz poses next to her two alpacas, Teddy and Truffles, outside the courthouse. Willy Lowry / The National -
A Depp fan holds a sign saying, 'You are loved, Johnny!' outside the courthouse. Willy Lowry / The National -
Most of the fans are there to support Depp. Willy Lowry / The National -
Depp fans wait for hours in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the star. Willy Lowry / The National -
Police cars line the street outside the courthouse in Fairfax. Willy Lowry / The National -
Fans of Depp have gone to great lengths to get the actor's attention. Getty Images / AFP -
Priscilla Valdes of Waldorf, Maryland, dresses as 'Amber Turd' at the courthouse. Getty Images / AFP -
Depp waves to fans before entering the courtroom. Getty Images / AFP -
Depp fans bring balloons and other gifts for the actor. AFP -
KB Plesnik of Baltimore spent the night on the sidewalk in the hope of getting inside the courtroom. AFP -
The line for access to the courtroom stretches around the building. AFP -
People waiting after midnight. AFP -
Some people sleep while waiting in line. AFP -
The fans are mostly women and mostly pro-Depp. AFP
