Bad news has come in for Amber Heard on Wednesday, as her efforts for a retrial have officially failed. After a six-week trial, a jury had primarily sided with Heard’s ex-husband Johnny Depp by finding her guilty on all three charges of alleged defamation. Depp wasn’t unscathed as he was found responsible for one of three charges in Heard’s counterclaim due to comments made by his previous attorney, Adam Waldman.
All in all, Heard’s on the hook for $8.35 million in damages owed to Depp. After the verdict, Heard’s lawyers had filed paperwork with the court asking for a retrial, or for the verdict to be outright tossed, based on an assertion that one of the jurors was fraudulent. It was reportedly uncovered that there was a jury duty summons sent to an address where two people with the same name, a father and son, had lived. Heard’s lawyers say the juror’s testimony should no longer count, arguing that the younger person showed up when the older person was expected.
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Per TMZ, the judge has shut down this retrial attempt. According to the judge, the summons sent to that address did not actually include a birthdate. This means that, legally, either the father or son could have shown up in that spot, and it does not constitute fraud. The judge also pointed out that Heard waited until after the verdict didn’t go her way to make this claim when it could have been brought up before or during the trial. In another blow, the judge also dismissed Heard’s assertion that the judgment awarded to Depp was excessive, and the amount owed still stands.
Heard’s last chance to escape the judgment is to have a successful appeal. The problem is that Heard’s lawyers have previously stated that she doesn’t currently have the money needed to appeal the judgment. It’s also believed that her chances of successfully appealing the jury’s decision are very low, even if she were to come through with the money and formally file the appeal.
Amber Heard Will Be Back on the Big Screen Next Year
Warner Bros. Pictures
Amber Heard’s career has most certainly taken a hit due to the very public legal battle with Johnny Depp. It does not seem likely that very many high-paying movie roles in blockbuster films will be coming her way soon, given the current notoriety surrounding the actress. There have been reports of Heard planning a tell-all book about her relationship with Depp that’s said to be netting her a multi-million dollar paycheck, so she may already be looking into alternative income sources.
With that said, we have not seen the last of Heard on the big screen just yet. Whatever happens next with her acting career, there are still plans for her to be featured in the upcoming sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Heard testified during the trial that her role in the movie had been greatly reduced, but despite a popular petition for her scenes to be completely removed, test screening reports suggest she has more than 20 minutes of screen time.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be released on March 17, 2023
