- Amber Heard will owe ex-husband Johnny Depp just over $10 million in damages even though a jury awarded him $15 million.
- The presiding judge lessened the punitive damages award to Depp because of limits set by state law.
- Depp was also found liable for defamation against Heard and owes her $2 million.
Amber Heard will owe ex-husband Johnny Depp just over $10 million in damages even though a jury awarded him $15 million when it ruled in his favor in his defamation suit against Heard.
That's because the presiding judge lessened the $5 million punitive damages awarded to Depp to $350,000 due to limits set by state law.
The jury also found Depp liable for defamation against Heard, awarding her $2 million, meaning Heard will owe Depp a net penalty of $8,350,000.
Depp took Heard to trial for defamation, accusing her of damaging his career with false domestic-violence allegations — and Heard filed a countersuit against Depp.
A Virginia jury in the case returned a verdict on Wednesday following the bombshell six-week trial and found that Heard defamed Depp with the accusations.
The jury awarded the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star $15 million in his libel suit against Heard — $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
However, Judge Penney Azcarate reduced the punitive damages award to $350,000 to follow Virginia state law.
"In accordance with law, I will amend the punitive damages award to the statutory cap of $350,000 on Mr. Depp's award," Azcarate said.
Jurors in the case also found Depp liable for defamation against Heard when one of his attorneys claimed her allegations of domestic abuse were a "hoax."
