Seven jurors overseeing the trial in Fairfax will decide whether 36-year-old Amber Heard defamed 58-year-old Johnny Depp when she wrote a 2018 Washington Post article in which she called herself a "public figure representing domestic abuse."
The jury will also have to decide whether she should be awarded millions in damages. "The jury will determine damages for both the lawsuit and the counterclaim," sources close to Hurd's legal team told the New York Post."
The "Aquaman" actress, who once dated Johnny Depp and was married to him for 15 months, is not facing jail time since she faces no criminal charges, only civil claims.
The "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor filed the $50 million defamation lawsuit against Hurd, claiming she damaged his reputation and career and cost him tens of millions when she wrote her article.
Hurd did not name Depp in her piece, but his lawyers argue that she continues to defame him because the article clearly referred to allegations of domestic abuse made by his ex-wife when she filed for divorce in 2016 and got a temporary restraining order against him.
Johnny Depp denies ever physically hurting Hurd and has maintained that she was the abuser in their relationship. Amber Heard, meanwhile, has accused Depp of assaulting her dozens of times.
The actress then filed a $100 million defamation counterclaim alleging that Johnny Depp was conducting a "smear campaign" to ruin her life.
The couple faced off before a jury in Fairfax County court for four weeks. Final arguments are set for May 27 and the jury could begin deliberating on the estranged couple's fate shortly thereafter.
There is a possibility that the jury will not be convinced on either side and decide that neither Johnny Depp nor Amber Heard should receive compensation, a source close to Heard's legal team said.
A spokesman for Johnny Depp confirmed: "The jury decides on damages and yes, it is possible that no damages will be awarded."
If the jury does not find that Amber Heard should pay in Johnny Depp's case, she will be entitled to recover her legal fees from Depp. That amount will be determined by a judge at a later point, the sources said.
But if Johnny Depp succeeds, it could have a "chilling effect" that would discourage other alleged victims from coming forward, said Halim Dhanidina, a criminal defense attorney and former California judge.
If the hypothetical victory also results in a significant monetary judgment being awarded to Depp, "then I'm sure there are people out there who will think twice about making statements if those statements could expose them to legal liability," Dhanidina said.
On the other hand, "we don't want to create a world where people feel they can say whatever they want even if they know it's not true," the former judge noted.
Source: iefimerida.gr
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