Amber Heard unable to pay Johnny Depp $10.4m in damages

Lawyer for actress says she 'has excellent grounds' to appeal jury's decision

Amber Heard hugs her lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, after the jury found her liable for defamation against her ex-husband, Johnny Depp on June 1, 2022. Pool / EPA

Johnny Depp's lawyers Camille Vasquez and Ben Chew arrive to give a statement to the media outside the Fairfax County Courthouse after the jury found Heard liable for defamation. AP

Fans of Depp react to the verdict outside the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse. EPA

Supporters Depp and supporters of Heard stand outside the courthouse during the trial. EPA

Amber Heard said her sister, Whitney Henriquez, got into a physical altercation with Johnny Depp. AP

Heard described several instances where she alleged Depp physically abused her – some of her testimony turning extremely graphic. AFP

Travis McGivern, a security guard for Depp, detailed a number of volatile arguments between Depp and Heard. EPA

A fan of Johnny Depp waits outside the courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP

Depp fans cheer outside the courthouse. Reuters

Clinical and forensic psychologist Shannon Curry testifies on behalf of Depp, saying Heard suffers from borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. She made the diagnosis after reviewing her medical records and speaking with her over 12 hours. EPA

Forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes said Heard suffered from PTSD due to the violence she allegedly experienced at Depp's hand. AP

Depp denied ever having struck Heard but admitted he has struggled with alcohol and drug use. EPA

Heard became emotional when giving details of alleged past abuse. AFP

Christi Dembrowski, Depp's older sister, said Heard had been verbally abusive towards him. AFP

Raquel Pennington, a friend of Heard, becomes emotional as a picture of Heard is seen on screen as evidence of alleged abuse. EPA

Kate Moss, a former girlfriend of Depp, said he did not push her down the stairs. EPA

A 'Pirates of the Caribbean'-themed vehicle sits in front of the courthouse. EPA

Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez grilled Heard when she took the stand, often interrupting her. AFP

Fans cheer as Depp arrives at the courthouse. Hundreds of people queued overnight just to nab a seat in the courtroom. AFP

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