On June 2, 2022, a Virginia court ruled in favor of Amber Heard in her defamation case against Johnny Depp. The court found that Depp was liable for something he did not say, and awarded Heard $2 million in damages.
The case began in 2019 when Heard filed a defamation lawsuit against Depp, claiming that he had falsely accused her of domestic violence. Depp had previously made public statements denying Heard’s allegations and accusing her of lying.
The court found that Depp’s statements were false and defamatory, and that he had acted with “actual malice” in making them. This means that Depp knew or should have known that his statements were false, and that he made them with the intention of harming Heard’s reputation.
The court also found that Depp had acted with “reckless disregard” for the truth. This means that he was aware of the potential consequences of his statements, but chose to make them anyway.
The court awarded Heard $2 million in damages, which is the maximum amount allowed under Virginia law. This amount is intended to compensate Heard for the harm caused by Depp’s false statements.
The verdict in the case is a reminder that false statements can have serious consequences. It also serves as a warning to those who may be tempted to make false statements about others, even if they are not made with malicious intent.