The verdict is confirmed. American judge Penney Azcarate on Wednesday rejected the request for a new trial made by Amber Heard, sentenced last month to pay more than 10 million dollars to Johnny Depp for defaming him in an editorial. However, the actress can still appeal to the Virginia Court of Appeal.
Amber Heard’s lawyers claimed in particular that there had been a possible mistake of identity of a juror, who would have been selected in place of his father – who bears the same name. But in her decision, the judge indicates that the summons did not include a date of birth. And according to her, the defense of Amber Heard, who had five days to challenge the composition of the jury, did not prove that their client had suffered damage.
Separate appeal procedure
After nearly two months of great unpacking, the jury found on June 1 that Amber Heard had defamed Johnny Depp by writing to be “a public figure representing domestic violence”. According to the verdict, the actress will have to pay 10.35 million dollars to her ex-husband. Who will have to pay Amber Heard $ 2 million, also for defamation, when one of his lawyers had accused the actress and her friends of having staged the ransacking of the couple’s apartment.
Wednesday’s ruling dealt only with the request to have the verdict overturned. Amber Heard still has a chance in the Virginia Court of Appeals, which she can still take, and she intends to, according to her lead attorney. It is mainly the decisions of Judge Penney Azcarate which would then be examined, in particular on certain evidence which she refused to add to the file.