Defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard. A lawsuit was filed against Amber Heard, a celebrity model, for alleged defamation of character. The suit was filed in Los Angeles, California. The case involved allegations of a sexual relationship between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. The trial was held in October 2008. During the trial, Amber Heard and other celebrities testified about the accusations. The jury ultimately found that the claims were false.
Defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard
Defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard and Johnny Depp was the second of two court cases to deal with abuse allegations. Amber Heard, a former ambassador for women’s rights for the ACLU, claims she was abused by Johnny Depp. During the six-week trial, the two co-stars presented conflicting versions of their relationship.
Both performers had uncertain careers ahead of the court case. Heard’s career was already on a downward trajectory following her public breakup with Depp. She has only a couple of upcoming roles.
She accused Depp of domestic violence. Heard said she had to strike him multiple times in self-defense. She also accused him of being a controlling husband.
Depp’s attorney disputed Heard’s allegations. He pointed to the article’s two passages in which Heard wrote about sexual abuse. They also cited Heard’s former girlfriend Moss, who testified that she never assaulted Depp. The jury found that Heard intentionally fabricated abuse allegations against Depp.
After the verdict was read, Heard looked somber. She wore a black dress and a gold necklace. She said she had received “death threats” since the trial began. She told the court that she was “heartbroken” by the verdict.
She referred to herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse”. She said she had been abused and hurt by Depp.
Defamation trial testimony
Defamation is a claim that a person’s statement is false or intended to harm another’s reputation. In Depp’s case, he claims that a reporter’s infamous quote about him beating his wife Amber Heard was a smear on his reputation. He brought this lawsuit against Heard in March, and is suing her for $50 million for damages. Heard has countersued him for $100 million.
In the trial, Heard alleged that her relationship with Depp began to fall apart, and that he physically abused her. She recalled several painful episodes of physical abuse during their time together. She said she was punched in the face, and one of their dogs had bowel control problems. She also accused him of being jealous and controlling.
In addition to Heard’s testimony, her former makeup artist and talent agent testified. She also provided a few pictures of the bruises she says she received from Depp. She said Depp attacked her when she was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Johnny Depp’s legal team fought hard with expert witness David Spiegel, a psychologist who says Depp has signs of narcissism and other risk factors for intimate partner violence. Heard’s attorney Benjamin Rottenborn attempted to cast doubt on Spiegel’s credibility.
Defamation verdict against Heard
Defamation verdict against Amber Heard and Johnny Depp in Fairfax County, Va. The high-profile trial in the suburbs of Washington, DC, was a spectacle. It offered a glimpse into the tumultuous marriage and career of the couple.
The six-week trial involved sensational claims. Both sides made claims of physical and sexual abuse, including a claim that Heard was “sexually assaulted” with a liquor bottle during a vacation in 2013. The couple’s marriage and their divorce were publicly aired in the media.
Depp’s team submitted audio recordings of their arguments, and the jury also saw video and text messages of their exchanges. They also disputed Heard’s testimony of having “hit” him.
Depp was found guilty of one count. The jury sided with him financially. He was ordered to pay Heard $2 million in compensatory damages. However, the jury decided to award her no punitive damages.
A judge reduced the punitive damage figure to $350,000. It was a smaller amount than Heard’s attorneys were seeking, but it could still prove to be an Achilles heel in the initial case.
The jury also opted to award her a $2 million counterclaim. It was a very small sum compared to the larger compensatory damages and punitive damages.
