Update: 3:24 p.m. ET
A jury has found in favor of actor Johnny Depp in his $50 million defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. The jury found that Depp proved all the elements of defamation and libel against Heard.
The jury also said Depp proved by clear and convincing evidence that Heard “acted with actual malice” on all counts.
The jury awarded compensatory damages to Depp in the amount of $10 million and punitive damages of $5 million.
Depp sued his ex-wife for $50 million for defamation over her op-ed she wrote which was published by The Washington Post in December 2018.
As for Heard’s countersuit against Depp, the jury found that Heard was defamed by an agent, but not Depp himself. Heard was awarded $2 million in damages from the agent.
Update: 3:05 p.m. ET
A jury has apparently found in favor of actor Johnny Depp in his $50 million defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.
A verdict was scheduled to be announced at 3 p.m. ET, but the judge sent the jury back to fill out forms detailing the compensatory and punitive damages to be awarded.
“When you find for a defamatory statement – one or more – you need to fill out the compensatory damages,” the judge instructed the jury, “It has to be at least a dollar for compensatory damages, and up to whatever you feel the damages should be. For punitive damages you can put a zero there…”
Legal analysts say the jury likely found in favor of Depp but didn’t award him any money.
Originally published on: June 1, 2022 at 2:08 p.m.
A verdict has been reached in the sensational Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard defamation trial in Fairfax, Virginia.
Heard is countersuing Depp for $100 million.
Depp, who is in London, will not be in the courtroom when the verdict is read, according to Fox News.
Amber Heard will be in the courtroom when the verdict is read at 3 p.m. Eastern time.
RELATED: Amber Heard Breaks Down While Explaining Johnny Depp Abuse
Depp sued his ex-wife for $50 million in February 2019 over an op-ed she wrote which was published by The Washington Post in December 2018. Depp’s trial began on April 11, and lasted for six weeks.
Depp blamed Heard’s op-ed for damaging his career and costing him millions in movie gigs and other revenue.
The jury deliberated for three days, routinely sending questions to the attorneys for responses from the plaintiff and defendant.
RELATED: Doctor who evaluated actress Amber Heard for 12 hours diagnosed her with violent tendencies
Depp and Heard were married from 2012 to 2016. She filed for divorce and a restraining order on May 23, 2016.
She alleged that Depp had been “verbally and physically abusive” to her throughout their marriage, usually while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The bisexual actress said violence began in their relationship while they were dating on and off in 2012.
A clinical psychologist who evaluated actress Amber Heard for 12 hours diagnosed her with personality disorders and a tendency to be violent with partners.
In 2019, Heard, 36, was accused of assaulting her ex-girlfriend, photographer Tasya van Ree.
After divorcing Depp in 2017, Heard dated billionaire Twitter owner Elon Musk for a year.
She is currently dating cinematographer Bianca Butti. Heard’s daughter Oonagh Paige was born on April 8, 2021 via a surrogate.
