On June 1, 2022, the jury in the case of Depp v. Heard ruled in favor of Amber Heard, awarding her $2 million in compensatory damages and $0 in punitive damages from Johnny Depp. The jury also ruled that Heard’s other allegations of Depp’s “sexual violence hoax” and “abuse hoax” had not been proven defamatory.
The case was brought by Depp against Heard in 2019, claiming that Heard had defamed him in a Washington Post article in which she described her experience of domestic abuse. Depp sought $50 million in damages, alleging that Heard had lied about the abuse in order to further her career.
Heard denied the allegations and countersued Depp for defamation, claiming that he had made false statements about her in the media and on social media. She sought $100 million in damages.
The jury found that Heard had not defamed Depp, but that he had defamed her. The jury awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages, but no punitive damages.
The jury also found that Heard’s allegations of Depp’s “sexual violence hoax” and “abuse hoax” had not been proven defamatory.
The verdict is seen as a victory for Heard, who has been vocal in her support of the #MeToo movement and has been a vocal advocate for victims of domestic violence.
The case has been closely watched by the media and has been seen as a bellwether for how the courts will handle similar cases in the future. It is likely that the verdict will have a significant impact on how future cases involving domestic violence and defamation are handled.