Judge Penney rejected Amber Heard's plea for a new trial. Photo: Instagram/amberheard
Amber Heard has tried to have a new trial following the impression the her verdict was not fairly reached. This follows a gruesome six weeks of standing trial for defamation.
To date, the Virginia Judge has dismissed Amber Heard’s call to stand a new trial. Her lawyers previously requested this on the grounds that one of the jurors was not who the court had requested.
Thus far, Amber Heard and her lawyers believe that she did not stand a fair trial given that the wrong person was part of the jury. Right now, court documents share that the juror requested was a 77-year-old man. However, his son responded to the call instead.
Through this, Amber Heard and her lawyers expressed that the case of mistaken identity is enough grounds for a mistrial. However, Judge Penney Azcarate rejected Heards claims as she cannot prove that she was prejudiced.
Another claim made by Amber Heard alleged that the jury did not pay much attention to the information shared in the op-ed she wrote for the Washinton Post in 2016.
Amber Heard is now has a daughter. Photo: Instagram/amberheard
Instead, Amber Heard expresses that the jury looked at the damage to Johnny Depp’s career on a large scale. Regardless, Judge Azcarate found that the claims were not grounded.
“The juror was vetted, sat for the entire jury, deliberated, and reached a verdict. The only evidence before this court is that this juror and all jurors followed their oaths, the court’s instructions, and orders. This court is bound by the competent decision of the jury.”
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Presently, Johnny Depp ultimately won the defamation lawsuit and was awarded $15 million. However, the maximum amount for punitive damages in Virginia County is $350 000. His amount was therefore reduced to $10.35 million.
However, Heard also won one count of defamation but was only awarded $2 million in damages. Since then, Heard has been very vocal about the fairness of the verdict as well as the role she alleges social media played in the verdict.
According to The Guardian, Amber Heard is still able to appeal the verdict to the Virginia Court of Appeals.