(Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)
VERDICT REACHED: Jury finds Amber Heard defamed her former husband Johnny Depp.#DeppVsHeard #verdict https://t.co/aYEhwthksB pic.twitter.com/fvO9CKqZqZ
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) June 1, 2022
From Mediaite, "BREAKING: Jury Finds Amber Heard Defamed Johnny Depp With Op-Ed":
The jury has reached a verdict in the blockbuster defamation trial between actors and ex-spouses Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
After spending roughly six weeks in the Fairfax, Virginia courtroom, the jury determined that Heard is guilty of defaming her former spouse in a 2018 op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post.
Heard was found guilty on all counts, as the jury determined Depp had proven all elements of his defamation case and that Heard acted with actual malicious.
Depp had sued Heard for $50 million in connection with the op-ed, and the jury awarded him $15 million total.
The jury specifically awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million dollars in punitive damages.
Heard had filed a $100 million countersuit accusing Depp and Depp’s former attorney Adam Waldman of orchestrating a “smear campaign” against her via his lawsuit.
In regards to the countersuit, the jury determined that Heard has also proven all elements of defamation.
The jury awarded $2 million to Heard in compensatory damages.
As I reported previously, Heard's op-ed was ghostwritten by ACLU staffer Robin Shulman after Heard pledged to donate $3.5 million to the liberal activist group.
The aim was to capitalize on the #MeToo movement to both smear Depp and promote Heard's new movie.
It's now cost Heard her reputation and some $13 million.
#BelieveAllMen!
UPDATE: Heard rushed out this likely prewritten, ghostwritten statement painting herself and all women as the victim:
— Amber Heard (@realamberheard) June 1, 2022
"The disappointment I feel today is beyond words," Heard's statement said. "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. 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. 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."
Truly hilarious!
Depp released the following statement through his spokesperson after the verdict came out:
Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed.
All in the blink of an eye.
False, very serious and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me. It had already traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career.
And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.
My decision to pursue this case, knowing very well the height of the legal hurdles that I would be facing and the inevitable, worldwide spectacle into my life, was only made after considerable thought.
From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that.
I am, and have been, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and the colossal support and kindness from around the world. I hope that my quest to have the truth be told will have helped others, men or women, who have found themselves in my situation, and that those supporting them never give up. I also hope that the position will now return to innocent until proven guilty, both within the courts and in the media.
I wish to acknowledge the noble work of the Judge, the jurors, the court staff and the Sheriffs who have sacrificed their own time to get to this point, and to my diligent and unwavering legal team who did an extraordinary job in helping me to share the truth.
The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun.
Veritas numquam perit.
Truth never perishes.
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