On June 24, the judge in Depp vs. Heard officially made the jury’s choice official by issuing a written order compelling Heard to pay Depp $10.35 million for harming his reputation with an op-ed article she wrote claiming to be a victim of domestic abuse.
During the highly televised hearing in Fairfax County Circuit Court, Judge Penney Azcarate entered a judgement order into the court file.
Heard also required Depp to pay her the $2 million punitive damage award on her counter-claim that one of Depp’s attorneys had libeled her.
The jury’s announcement of its decision on June 1 and the subsequent order became a formality after a gripping trial during which the pair aired lurid details of their short marriage on live television, which was widely followed on social media. The jury sided largely with Depp in its conclusion.
Johnny Depp has filed a lawsuit against Heard, claiming that she was “a public figure representing domestic abuse” when she published an article for “The Washington Post” in December 2018.
All three of Depp’s allegations relating to particular assertions in the 2018 article were upheld by the jury.
Despite the jury’s recommendation that Depp be given $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, a state cap limited the punitive damages award to $350,000.
Heard intends to appeal the verdict, according to her attorney.
The hearing was held on Friday, and the court stated that if Heard appeals, she will be required to post a bond equal to the full $10.35 million compensatory damages before her appeal is heard.
Both honors are eligible for 6% interest per year, as decided by the judge.
She would be required to pay an additional $480,000 in interest as a result of this decision.
According on reports from The Post, the court rejected all of Heard’s proposed changes and instead entered Depp’s verdict in writing.