Last Updated on 06/03/2022 by てんしょく飯
Amber Heard, who lost a lawsuit filed by her ex-husband Johnny Depp for defamation and was ordered to pay a total of more than $10 million in damages, is unable to pay, her lawyer has revealed.
Amber Heard “cannot pay damages,” her lawyer reveals.
On June 1 (local time), in a trial in which actor Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife, also an actor, Amber Heard, for defamation, a jury found that an editorial Amber wrote for the Washington Post in 2018 was defamatory and awarded Amber $10 million in compensatory damages and another ordered Johnny to pay $5 million in punitive damages. Johnny also won the legal case, but Amber also won $2 million in a counterclaim against Johnny.
Under Virginia law, the maximum punitive damages award is $350,000, so Amber’s award to Johnny will be “reduced” to a little more than $10 million, rather than the $15 million total of the above two awards. However, according to Elaine Bredehoeft, Amber’s attorney, Amber currently does not have the financial resources to pay the damages. ” to which Bredehoeft replied, “No, absolutely not.
What happens if she is unable to pay?
So what happens if there is no ability to pay? Legal analyst Emily D. Baker gave People this prediction for the future.
It’s up to the parties, but I suspect that once the verdict is registered on June 24, their lawyers will start negotiating for payment of that verdict statement. (Johnny’s attorney) Ben Chu said in closing arguments that Johnny Depp was not trying to punish Amber Heard with money*. I expect that a statement will be issued that they will attempt to settle and will not seek to enforce the verdict. Incidentally, if they (Johnny’s side) wanted to enforce the verdict, they could seize property, set up a payment method, or start an entirely different process in court. I think they will get an injunction prohibiting Amber Heard from repeating statements that the jury found to be defamatory, with a stipulation that they do not have to pay any damages to avoid accruing an unpaid debt. If he (Johnny) is not interested in the money, then he is more interested in her not repeating the allegations (than the money).”
In his closing argument, Mr. *Chu said, “The purpose of this trial is not about money or punishing Ms. Heard.”
Mr. Baker expected that Johnny would be more interested in Amber not making any statements that would rehash the allegations than in compensation being paid, but if Johnny were to require Amber to fulfill her obligation to pay compensation, he could seize Amber’s property, remaining funds, and wages through the court It is possible, he said, but only from the time the verdict is registered, and it may require a very lengthy court process to enforce the verdict.
Baker also said that even if Amber files for bankruptcy, there is no guarantee that she will be exempt from paying damages. As a matter of fact, defamation is less likely to be discharged in bankruptcy if it is against a public figure, because there is an element of willfulness or malice.
Incidentally, Bredehoeft, who is representing Amber in the closing arguments of the trial, revealed that Amber paid a total of more than $6 million in legal fees. Amber also promised to donate all of the $7 million she received from Johnny as a settlement in the divorce to two charities, but she has yet to fulfill that promise due to the high legal costs. However, he has indicated that he is willing to pay.
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