Verdict! Johnny Depp and Amber Heard

The verdict is in from the seven person jury on the defamation suit of Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard in the state of Virginia. Yesterday, five men and two women awarded 10 million dollars in compensatory damages and 5 million dollars in punitive damages for defamation by Amber Heard against Johnny Depp. Unfortunately, the state of Virginia has a limit of $350,000 for punitive awards in civil suits which jurors are legally forbidden from being told. (Interesting, huh?) Therefore, Mr. Depp will only receive 10.35 million dollars from Amber Heard, however, the jury also awarded 2 million dollars to Amber Heard from Johnny Depp for defamation due to her countersuit. Initially, Mr. Depp requested 50 million dollars and Ms. Heard requested 100 million dollars in her counter suit, both for defamation. I find it more than interesting that throughout the trial which was streamed and continuously commented upon in the media there was no evidence of defamation by Mr. Depp despite what may be considered some of his behavior being less than stellar while suffering years long abuse at the hands of Ms. Heard.

Typically, it is very difficult for public figures, and the more famous and publicly known the more difficult it is, to show defamation leading to some sort of financial injury resulting in compensatory awards. The fact that Mr. Depp was also awarded punitive damages clearly shows the jury believed it was malicious and purposeful activity on the part of Ms. Heard to defame. That alone should speak volumes regarding the evidence presented in the court about her activity.

The part about her receiving 2 million dollars as compensatory damages by Mr. Depp against Ms. Heard thereby reducing what Mr. Depp will receive from Ms. Heard to 8.35 million dollars based upon no real evidence other than a statement from Mr. Depp that was likely true but did nothing to damage her reputation is odd to me other than a simple nod to Ms. Heard for having to endure some of Mr. Depp's drunken escapades and emotional outbursts. I wonder if anyone could have endured being married to someone like her for years with the proven physical, mental and financial abuse evidenced in the court.

Please listen for more information and discussion of the trial and the verdict by Millennial Z and Boomer X.