Amber Hearddoes not have the means to pay $10.35 million in damages to ex-husbandJohnny Deppfollowing their trial verdict on Wednesday, according to her lawyer.
Elaine Bredehoft spoke withSavannah Guthrieon Thursday’s episode of theTodayshow, and, when asked whether her clientwould be able to paythe amount, said, “Oh, no, absolutely not.”
Earlier this week, thePirates of the Caribbeanactor, 58,won all three defamation claimsin the case he brought against his ex-wife over her 2018 op-ed about coming forward with domestic abuse allegations.
The jury awarded Depp $15 million in damages but theAquaman 2actress, 36, will only have to pay $10.35 million due to a Virginia law capping punitive damages (the judge reduced the amount).
Depp, meanwhile, was found to have defamed his ex-wife on one of three claims in her countersuit. She was awarded $2 million in damages.
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During her appearance onToday, Bredehoft also went into detail about how she believes her client was “demonized” during the trial and that internet favor was “absolutely” in Depp’s corner. She feels it ultimately affected the outcome of the case.
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“And it was horrible — it really, really was lopsided,” the attorney continued. “It was like the Roman Colosseum, how they viewed this whole case.”
Amber Heard.MICHAEL REYNOLDS/POOL/AFP via Getty
Bredehoft added, “I was against cameras in the courtroom and I went on record with that, and had argued against it because of the sensitive nature of this [case]. But it made it a zoo.”
Heardreleased a statementshortly after the verdict was read Wednesday. “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband,” she began. “I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback.”
“It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. Itsets back the idea that violence against womenis to be taken seriously. I believe Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the U.K.,” Heard continued. “I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American — to speak freely and openly.”
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Depp, in his own statement released after the verdict (whichHeard plans to appeal, according to Bredehoft) was reached, said he believes the “best is yet to come” for him.
“Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed. All in the blink of an eye,” the star said. “False, very serious and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me. It had already traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career. And six years later,the jury gave me my life back.”
“I also hope that the position will now return to innocent until proven guilty, both within the courts and in the media,” the actor went on. “I wish to acknowledge the noble work of the Judge, the jurors, the court staff and the Sheriffs who have sacrificed their own time to get to this point, and to my diligent and unwavering legal team who did an extraordinary job in helping me to share the truth. The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun.Veritas numquam perit. Truth never perishes.”
Heard previously announced publicly that she would be donating all of her $7 million divorce settlement to charity — half to the American Civil Liberties Union and half to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The actresshas yet to fulfill those pledges, which were scheduled to be paid in annual increments. On the stand, Heard said she still fully intends on completing the donations.
“I would love him to stop suing me so I can,” the actress said on the stand of making good on the promised charitable payments.
source: people.com
