At lengthy final, the authorized saga between ex-spouses Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has formally come to an finish.
In a prolonged assertion shared to Heard’s social media account on Monday, the Aquaman actor confirmed she made the “very difficult decision” to settle the defamation swimsuit with Depp.
“It’s important for me to say that I never chose this,” Heard, 36, wrote. “I defended my truth and in doing so my life as I knew it was destroyed.”
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In June, Heard misplaced a high-profile defamation swimsuit in opposition to Depp, 59. He sued his ex-wife over a Washington Post op-ed wherein she referred to herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
A seven-person jury in Fairfax, Va., dominated in favour of Depp and awarded the actor US$10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages (which was later decreased to $350,000, the utmost allowed by the state).
Heard was awarded $2 million in a beneficial ruling on one among her three countersuit claims. In the countersuit, Heard and her legal professionals alleged Depp was “vicariously liable” for 3 statements made by the actor’s former lawyer, Adam Waldman, to British tabloid The Daily Mail.
Heard and Depp divorced in 2016 after a tumultuous marriage. Both spouses claimed to be victims of home abuse.
Rolling Stone reported Depp will obtain a $1-million payout from Heard’s insurance coverage firm.
The outlet was additionally despatched an announcement from Depp’s legal professionals, Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez.
“We are pleased to formally close the door on this painful chapter for Mr. Depp, who made clear throughout this process that his priority was about bringing the truth to light,” wrote Depp’s legal professionals. “The jury’s unanimous decision and the resulting judgement in Mr. Depp’s favor against Ms. Heard remain fully in place. The payment of $1 (million) — which Mr. Depp is pledging and will donate to charities — reinforces Ms. Heard’s acknowledgement of the conclusion of the legal system’s rigorous pursuit for justice.”
Alternatively, Heard’s assertion made it clear she didn’t consider justice had been served.
“I have made no admission. This is not an act of concession,” Heard clarified. “There are no restrictions or gags with respect to my voice moving forward.”
Heard mentioned the settlement, although not excellent, will present her “an opportunity to emancipate myself from something I attempted to leave over six years ago and on terms I can agree to.”
In November, Depp launched an attraction of Heard’s single countersuit win. Later that very same month, Heard submitted her personal attraction that requested for Depp’s $10-million verdict to be reversed or disregarded for a brand new trial.
In her assertion, Heard claimed the “vilification” of her on social media “is an amplified version of the ways in which women are re-victimized.”
“I make this decision having lost faith in the American legal system, where my unprotected testimony served as entertainment and social media fodder,” she wrote.
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Heard made point out of the U.Okay. trial between Depp and British tabloid The Sun that pre-dated the Virginia defamation case. Depp sued the paper after an article was revealed calling him a “wife beater.” He misplaced the trial when a U.Okay. decide determined The Sun’s claims have been “substantially true.”
Heard testified in court docket to again The Sun’s claims.
“When I stood before a judge in the UK, I was vindicated by a robust, impartial and fair system, where I was protected from having to give the worst moments of my testimony in front of the world’s media, and where the court found I was subjected to domestic and sexual violence,” Heard continued.
“In the US, however, I exhausted almost all of my resources in advance of and during a trial in which I was subjected to a courtroom in which abundant, direct evidence that corroborated my testimony was excluded and in which popularity and power mattered more than reason and due process.”
Heard wrote that she was “exposed to a type of humiliation that I simply cannot re-live.”
She concluded by thanking her authorized groups and supporters.
“Any survivor knows that the ability to tell their story often feels like the only relief, and I cannot find enough words to tell you the hope your belief in me inspires, not just for me, but for all of you,” she mentioned.
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If you or somebody you realize has been a sufferer of intimate companion violence or is concerned in an abusive scenario, please go to the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime for assist. They are additionally reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
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