Amber Heard to appeal verdict in defamation case against husband, Johnny Depp

Amber Heard, 36, plans to appeal yesterday’s ruling in her defamation case against Johnny Depp, 58, that left her owing her ex-husband a whopping $10.35million, according to her spokesperson.
After less than three days of deliberation, the jury ruled in favor of all three of Depp’s defamation claims against Heard, finding that she had falsely accused him of domestic abuse.
The actor was awarded $15million – $10million in compensation and $5million in punitive damages. The judge later capped the damages at the Virginia maximum of $350,000 leaving Depp with a total of $8.35million.
In contrast, Heard won just one of her three countersuit claims, which related to statements made by Depp’s lawyer suggesting she and friends had trashed their apartment before calling the police out. She was awarded just $2million in compensatory damages out of the $100million she was seeking, and zero dollars in punitive damages.
Heard’s spokesperson Alafair Hall told The New York Times she now plans to appeal.
It is not clear on what grounds she plans to appeal. To be granted an appeal, Heard would likely need to demonstrate that there were errors in the trial, or in the presiding judge’s reading of the law.
Heard would also need to post bond of the full $10,350,000, plus interest charges over the course of an appeal trial.
In a statement after the verdict, Heard said, ‘The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. 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.’
‘I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.’
As she left court, Heard looked downcast while climbing into a truck with blacked out windows with her sister Whitney. A member of her legal team could be seen putting her hand on her back as she got in.
Depp, on the other hand, spent the day celebrating at a pub in the UK with rock stars Jeff Beck and Sam Fender, while his legal team were all smiles and joined each other in a group hug in Virginia.