Amber Heard vs. Johnny Depp: Can 'Aquaman' Actress Win an Appeal After Major Loss?

After being forced to pay Johnny Depp $15 million in damages in her libel trial, Amber Heard has indicated she will appeal the judgment.

The jury ruled against the 'Aquaman' actress, and only hours after losing her case, a spokesperson revealed she would appeal the judgment. Amber Heard's lawyer, Alafair Hall, claimed she was "heartbroken" by the verdict, and he said that Amber Heard intended to appeal.

Amber Heard Urges To Appeal Johnny Depp's Defamation Victory

Johnny Depp, 58, filed the lawsuit after Amber Heard, 36, accused him of defaming him in an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018. Johnny Depp was granted $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.

To be successful, the actress would have to show that there were mistakes in the trial or the jury's interpretation of the law. While Amber Heard is claimed to be organizing the next round of their legal fight, Johnny Depp was spotted relaxing with singer Sam Fender at a Newcastle pub.

After six weeks of testimony and nearly 13 hours of deliberation, jury members delivered judgments in Johnny Depp's favor on Wednesday, and he claimed he "feels at peace" and was "truly humbled."

While Amber Heard was in court, the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star was seen fist-bumping with fans and sipping pints with musicians Sam Fender and Jeff Beck at The Bridge Tavern in Gateshead.

The actor claimed his decision to pursue the matter "was only taken after great thought" and that his purpose was to "reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome" in a statement sent through his spokesperson, as per Daily Record.

During the trial, the jury awarded the Justice League actress $2 million after finding that Depp's attorney made a defamatory comment about her, claiming her abuse accusations were fake.

Per US Magazine, Heard hopes to focus her attention on her family after the trial, in addition to launching an appeal. According to the source, the 'Never Back Down' actress "is telling friends that she is going to focus completely on raising her daughter."

Legal Experts Weigh in on Amber Heard's Plan To Appeal Verdict

According to Carole Lieberman, a forensic psychiatrist in Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, who watched the whole trial to contribute to TV and radio outlets, the chances of Amber Heard getting the appeal granted are slim as the original trial was "extremely long" and in-depth.

"The issues that Elaine Bredehoft complained of were already ruled on by a very competent judge. If by some chance, she was granted an appeal, the case would settle because Johnny Depp doesn't want to go through it again and he is very generous. So, even though she doesn't deserve it, he would offer her some money to go away." the writer for 'Inside the Criminal Mind' column and Newsweek told HNGN.

Meanwhile, David Clark, lawyer, and partner at The Clark Law Office, argued that Amber Heard's team still has the chance of overturning the recently won defamation suit by Johnny Depp. Clark explained that although the appeals typically take years, Johnny Depp's victory could be rescinded as the jury's conclusions, which awarded both countersuing parties, contradict each other.

According to the seasoned attorney for 35 years practicing in The State Of Michigan and throughout the US, despite believing Johnny Depp's claim that Heard's op-ed about her being a victim of domestic violence hurt his career, the jury awarding Amber Heard $2 million for her claim against Depp's lawyer who claimed her abuse was a fraud has effectively established that they do believe she has been a victim of domestic violence.

"Should Heard's side submit an appeal, it will be Judge Penney Azcarate's actions and rulings in that case that would be reviewed," Clark told HNGN.