What will happen to Amber Heard if Johnny Depp wins the defamation trial

Within a month, actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were immersed in the judicial process in Fairfax (Virginia, United States) to determine whether the article in which the interpreter wrote Washington Post in 2018 It is considered a crime of defamation against the actor.

Johnny Depp criticized Amber Heard for the opinion piece and asking for 50 million dollars in damages. Heard countersued Depp and asked him for 100 million dollars for it try to destroy his image in this judicial process.

the actor of pirates of the Caribbean filed his $ 50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard, the claim of his article damaged his reputation and career. The truth is that the actress did not name Depp in that article, but the actor’s lawyers defended that this column clearly accused the actor of domestic abuse and it was defamation against the actor.

The counterclaim for 100 million

For her part, Amber Heard has denounced in Fairfax court the domestic abuse that she suffered from the actor during her marriage and accused the actor of attacking her on several occasions. Depp denied physically hurting Heard, and insisted he was abusing their relationship.

Now the seven -jury court has to decide whether Heard, 36, defamed Johnny Depp, 58, in his article on Washington Post or not.

The same jury will also decide Amber Heard’s counterclaim and determine if there are damages in both cases. In principle, both parties have until May 27 to present their versions and then the jury will discuss the matter.

If the jury finds that Amber is guilty of the complaint made by Depp, it will determine the damages that Amber will have to pay to the actor. And if he considers that Mr. Depp is guilty of the counterclaim that Amber placed on the interpreter, this will determine the consequences that Johnny Depp must bring.

Also there is a tendency for the jury to determine that Depp or Heard should not be paid for injuries.

What if Amber wins and what if she loses

According to the American newspaper The New York Postin case the jury rules in favor of Amber Heard, she will be able to take the amount of money she demands and, in addition, she will also recover the costs that the trial required for her.

In the opposite case, if the jury determines that Amber Heard defamed the actor, the actress will do not risk a prison sentence because he faces no criminal charges, only civil claims and he has to pay the amount demanded by the actor.

However, beyond the judicial battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, this sentence can have a negative effect.

According to judicial sources consulted by The New York Postthe sentence against Heard may prevent other alleged victims of domestic abuse from reporting to their partners.

And it is, according to the aforementioned newspaper, whenever a libel suit is successful, there is a chilling effect to the complaints of the victims for fear that the complaint would return to them.

Source: The Vanguard

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