Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's lawyers are unable to reach a last-minute settlement on Friday, a time-consuming and costly appeal process. I'm ready.
Judge Penny Azkarate of Fairfax County, Virginia, confirmed the verdict in a defamation trial of the former couple at a hearing that Depp and Hard did not attend.
A hard spokesman, 36, signaled that the actress "Aquaman" would appeal.
"If you are innocent, you will not seek amnesty, and if you know what is right, you will not refuse the appeal," she said in a statement to Post Friday. ..
Twenty-one days later, the case will be transferred to the Virginia Court of Appeals, after which the parties will file a notice of appeal within 30 days.
Under a decision order filed with Dockett on Friday afternoon, Depp and Hard are required to submit $ 2 million and $ 10.35 million, respectively, plus 6% interest annually. there is.
Proceedings-savvy sources said the judge wrote the version of Depp's verdict completely on paper, rejected all of Hard's proposed edits, and Depp's legal team was on his side. He told the post that he did not request an injunction against the former. wife.
According to sources, the court must also submit a deposit equal to the full amount of the judgment if Hard filed an appeal. Was ruled. , And also paying her interest for $ 480,000.
On June 1, a Virginia jury inflicted $ 15 million in damages to Depp after discovering that Heard had unfairly portrayed him as an abuser in a newspaper editorial. rice field. The article, and in the process, hurt his reputation and career.
The jury ruled in favor of all three defamation claims of Depp, but a former actor's lawyer defamed Hard in one case as part of a countermeasure. I also found that I had given her $ 2 million in damages.
Earlier this month,Depp's lawyer Benjamin Chewsaid in an interview with "Good Morning America" that she was the star of "Pirates of the Caribbean." If he agrees not to appeal, he is willing to give up paying millions of dollars in damages to his ex-wife.
"We can't reveal the communication between the lawyer and the client, but as Mr. Depp testified ... this wasn't Mr. Depp's money," he said. When asked about his fears, Chu told George Stephanopoulos.
"This was to restore his reputation — and he did it," Chu added.
Elaine Bredehof, one of the hard lawyers NBC's "Today" and "Aquaman" stars couldn't afford the $ 8.35 million she owes to Depp.
Sources told The Post in early June that the 36-year-old actress was "broken" due to the huge statutory costs associated with a six-week trial {81. } .
When asked if the actress had the means to cover the decision made by the jury, Bredehoft said, "Oh, absolutely not."