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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

How Amber Heard will pay Johnny Depp legal fees after losing defamation case

Johnny Depp won his legal battle with ex Amber Heard following a sensational six week long trial in the US on Wednesday evening.

A jury ruled in favour of the actor, 58, following weeks of testimony from Depp, Heard, friends of the pair, expert witnesses and even supermodel Kate Moss, a former partner of Depp.

Depp was awarded compensatory damages of $10million (£8million) and a further $5million (£4million) in punitive damages.

Now, Heard faces an $8million (£6,300million) payout.

Amber will be forced to pay up $10 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages which was reduced from $5 million due to Virginia's cap on such awards.

Amber lost the trial on Wednesday (EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

The actress will receive $2million from Depp in a counter-lawsuit, leaving her a little less to fork out than expected.

However, the 36-year-old actress now runs the risk of serious financial strain and woes and she could even face bankruptcy, according to experts.

The Aquaman star's financial situation and current net worth has not been disclosed since the trial started at the beginning of last month.

She did however rake in millions of dollars over the years for her appearances in the Aquaman films and her other TV roles.

Heard claimed she was unable to donate $7million to charity after her divorce from Depp in 2017 (AFP via Getty Images)
Amber looked downcast as she left court (AFP via Getty Images)

In the early days of the trial, Heard claimed she was unable to donate $7million to charity after her divorce from Depp in 2017, because the actor had filed a $50million lawsuit against her.

Heard received the $7 million settlement from Depp after their divorce, which she pledged to donate to charities including the American Civil Liberties Union.

While on the stand, Heard admitted that she had not yet donated the money to the charity due to financial woes.

During the trial, it was also suggested that Heard's acting career had halted due to the sensational trail against her ex-husband - meaning that her money flow had dwindled.

Heard can still appeal the verdict, however, she will have to post a bond for the full $10.35 million judgment (REX/Shutterstock)

Heard can still appeal the verdict, however, she will have to post a bond for the full $10.35 million judgment- as well as interest.

If it happens that Heard cannot pay the staggering legal fees, the court may choose to garnish part of her wages.

This will happen if it is found that Heard has the requisite earning potential.

And if Heard decides against going ahead with an appeal, she runs the risk of having any current and future wages being garnished anyway.

Heard could also file for bankruptcy which could rid her of the staggering $8 million in compensatory damages.

Johnny Depp was absent from the last day in court as he hit the pub in Newcastle, UK (GETTY)

However, she would still have to fork out the $350,000 for punitive damages.

Speaking to CBS MoneyWatch, a financial expert told: "For an individual who doesn't have the ability to pay the judgment and no ability to post the bond, then there is a real issue if the winning party intends to execute the judgment."

Heard appeared incredibly downcast as the verdict of the trial was read out on Wednesday.

Following the verdict Heard said she felt 'heartbroken ' by the ruling, adding she was 'sadder still' that she had 'lost a right' to 'speak freely and openly'.

"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 said in a statement.

“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. It sets back the idea that violence against women is 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 UK.

Depp sued Heard, 36, for defamation over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed she wrote about the alleged domestic violence (Getty)

“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.”

Depp sued Heard, 36, for defamation over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed she wrote about the alleged domestic violence she suffered, although she did not name her ex-husband.

He demanded more than £38 million, saying her domestic abuse claims have all but ended his career and ruined his reputation.

Depp denies ever physically or sexually assaulting Heard.

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