Official directives state that Amber Heard must pay $10M to Johnny Depp for harming his reputation. The former couple's attorneys were unable to reach a settlement, which opened the door for an expensive appeals procedure.
By identifying herself as a victim of domestic abuse in an opinion article she authored in December 2018, she has been held guilty for hurting Johnny Depp's reputation.
Amber Heard was found by a jury to have defamed Johnny Depp by portraying herself as a victim of domestic abuse in an op-ed piece. On Friday, the judge in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial made the jury's verdict official by issuing a written order requiring Heard to pay Depp $10.35 million.
At the hearing on Friday, the judge stated that, as is customary, Heard would need to post a bond equal to the entire $10.35 million award while her appeal is underway. Both awards are entitled to 6% interest annually, according to the judge's order.
She had also said, “She was demonised here. A number of things were allowed in this court that should not have been allowed, and it caused the jury to be confused. We weren't allowed to tell them about the UK judgement…There are no damages.”
According to Amber's attorney Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, the star is unable to pay such a large sum. Amber responded, "Oh no, definitely not," when asked if she would be able to give Johnny the specified sum.
According to the news source, the judge stated during Friday's hearing that if Amber appeals, she will need to post a bond equal to the entire $10.35 million judgement amount while the appeal is underway. Both awards are entitled to 6% interest annually, according to the judge's order. The judge cut the punitive damages award to $350,000 due to a state cap even though the jury had previously determined that Johnny should receive $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.