This is why Amber Heard was awarded $2 million in the defamation trial

Last night, the jury announced their final verdict (Wednesday, June 1). They found both Johnny Depp and Amber Heard guilty of defamation. Depp was awarded more than Heard, but the Aquaman actress still received $2 million.

How was Amber Heard defamed?

Amber Heard counter-sued Johnny Depp for $100 million and was only awarded $2 million. The jury found that only one of the three counter-claims was liable.

The jury found that the statement of Johnny Depp’s lawyer, Adam Waldman, claiming that Heard’s allegations of domestic violence were ‘hoax’ was defamatory as reported by Unilad. As a result, Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages but was awarded nothing for punitive damages. According to MailOnline, the statement Waldman made was that Heard and her friends ‘trashed their apartment before calling the police out’.

Amber Heard is planning to appeal

A spokesperson for Heard told The New YorkTimes that the actress plans to appeal the jury’s decision. It is still unclear on what grounds she will appeal.

Unilad reported that for Amber Heard to appeal the verdict, she would either have to find ‘errors in the trial or that there were issues with the presiding judge's reading of the law.’ the actress would also be able to appeal if she were able to present new evidence.

Read more:

⋙ Johnny Depp and Amber Heard: What will happen to the person who loses the trial?

⋙ Amber Heard’s friend claims the actress had a ‘threesome’ whilst married to Johnny Depp

⋙ Amber Heard’s sister testifies against Johnny Depp and his alleged abuse