Amber Heard is demanding a reversal or a new trial in the defamation case filed against her by Johnny Depp, with her lawyers arguing that paying more than $10 million in damages is “excessive,” People reported Tuesday.
Heard appealed the verdict after losing the defamation case in June, according to the outlet. She reportedly said the outcome has a “chilling effect” on women speaking out against powerful men. Depp sued Heard after the latter alleged he was abusive to her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed.
Amber Heard Says Johnny Depp Verdict Has ‘Chilling Effect’ on Women, Demands Reversal or New Trial https://t.co/CY4IIkl6Iw
— People (@people) December 6, 2022
A Nov. 23 filing by the Virginia Court of Appeals showed that Heard’s lawyers raised questions about the June 1 verdict, and also probed the court regarding why the trial took place in Virginia instead of California, according to People. Heard’s legal team reportedly insisted the trial shouldn’t have even taken place, since Depp lost his November 2020 U.K. libel case against The Sun. Depp launched that proceeding when the tabloid referred to him as a “wife-beater,” according to People.
“The trial court also erred in overruling Heard’s demurrer, in which she argued that the challenged statements are non-actionable expressions of opinion and are not reasonably capable of conveying the alleged defamatory implication,” Heard’s lawyers said in the court documents, according to People. (RELATED: Porn Star Offers Amber Heard Some Career Advice After Losing Lawsuit)
“That holding, if allowed to stand, undoubtedly will have a chilling effect on other women who wish to speak about abuse involving powerful men,” the lawyers reportedly continued in the documents.
The widely publicized trial ended with a seven-person jury finding Heard guilty of defaming Depp, and Depp received over $10 million in damages, according to People. In the appeal, Heard’s lawyers reportedly argued that the amount of damages is “excessive given the narrow time frame for which Depp could recover.”
Heard won one of the defamation counterclaims to the tune of $2 million.