Johnny Depp Appeals Defamation Verdict That Ordered He Pay Amber Heard $2 Million—Here’s Why He Could Win
Johnny Depp filed to appeal one count of his overwhelmingly victorious verdict in a heated defamation battle against his ex-wife Amber Heard that took place earlier this year. In a landmark decision, Depp won every count of his defamation suit and was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages in a country whose freedom of speech laws make it virtually impossible to win a defamation suit against a public figure.
However, Heard also countersued Depp for three statements made by his lawyer Adam Waldman in a series of Daily Mail articles. While Depp was cleared of defamation for two of the statements, the final statement was deemed defamatory, and he was ordered to pay Heard $2 million in compensatory damages and no money in punitive damages. Depp understandably wants the bulk of the judgment to be upheld but contests that he is liable for defamation because of a statement that his lawyer made to the press. Let's dive into the details of the appeal and how good of a case he has.