A jury in Virginia on Wednesday ruled that Johnny Depp'sDepp's ex-wife Amber Heard defamed him in her December 2018 op-ed in the Washington Post, which detailed accusations of domestic abuse. The seven-person jury also found that Depp's lawyer defamed Heard, who accused her of creating a hoax.
The case received national attention because of allegations of domestic violence by both actors.
The jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. The judge capped the punitive damages total because of legal limits, which resulted in $10.35 million in total compensation.
During the trial, Depp testified that it was insane to be the target of Heard's heinous accusations of sexual violence.
The jury gave me my life back. "I am truly humbled," Depp said.
The Aquaman actress spoke about what this verdict means for women, calling it a setback. She can appeal the decision in the state of Virginia.
Heard, who received $2 million in compensatory damages, said the disappointment I feel today is beyond words.
In February of 2019, Depp filed a $50 million libel suit over Heard's Washington Post op-ed, which described herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. The legal team of Depp said he was defamed, though the op-ed never mentioned his name.
Depp said Heard's claims denied him career opportunities in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise.
In response to Depp's defamation suit, Heard filed a countersuit for $100 million.
Depp was in the U.K. when the verdict was reached. Heard's representatives called him out for his lack of seriousness because of his non-attendance.
Depp, 58, and Heard, 36, were briefly married. They began dating in 2011 and married in February 2015. They filed for divorce in May 2016.