What will happen if Amber Heard can not pay Johnny Depp the compensation of 10 million euros
After more than six years since they signed their divorce and began their arduous legal battle, last Wednesday one of the most tense moments in memory was experienced, with millions of people waiting on their devices to find out first-hand about the verdict of the most media of recent times. A jury, made up of five men and two women, who agreed with Johnny Depp and accused Amber Heard of defaming through her controversial opinion article in The Washington Post, in which she presented herself as a victim of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Although the actress never named Depp, the actor sued her, considering that her words had caused the ruin of her career and image.
The verdict of the jury was clear: both defamed each other, but with the actress bearing the greatest burden in terms of the corresponding compensation, being sentenced to pay compensation of about 10.4 million dollars (about 10 million euros) to her ex-husband. A verdict in which only the actress was present in the Fairfax courts, where she tried to contain her emotions after reading what she considers a "humiliating" verdict.
Despite having lost the case, the actress is expected to appeal the amount that has been imposed on her as compensation since, as her lawyer has assured, she will not be able to face the almost ten million euros that she has been awarded. they have imposed
"No checks will be written until the case is finally resolved," Elaine Bredehoft, the actress's lawyer, told The Post newspaper, assuring that the legal battle was far from over and that they can provide new evidence that would be decisive, such as medical evidence or more messages from his assistants: "What this jury has said is that, if you didn't record it, it never happened."
The jury sentenced the actress to pay 15 million dollars, but the judge reduced it to the final 10.35 based on the laws of the state of Virginia, which limits the amounts to be paid for damages. However, her lawyer insists that the actress cannot afford that amount of money, so they will appeal the court decision as soon as possible.
What will happen if she Amber can't pay?
As Bredehoft herself mentioned during her conclusions, the actress would have already spent more than six million dollars only on the costs of the trial, so she would be unable to face this new debt. Her attorney is confident that appealing the case will significantly reduce the amount to be paid. Thus, different scenarios could occur.
Negotiate with Johnny Depp
The process will come to an end on June 24, the date that the actress has as a deadline to present her appeal. In case of not being able to face the payment, it is most likely that the lawyers of the respective parties will try to negotiate an agreement since, as the actor's legal representatives expressed during their conclusions, the case "has never been a matter of money ” or for “punishing” the actress, for which they could be open to a subsequent negotiation at the end of the legal process, thus avoiding appeals and questioning the jury's verdict.
Appeal the jury's verdict
In case the actress's team refused to negotiate and wanted to appeal the jury's decision, as well as having to pay a more than likely down payment anyway; A new legal process would be initiated, in which it will be determined how to pay the compensation, either with properties or other types of assets, such as what she receives from her professional projects. In this case, Depp could negotiate with her a reduction or cancellation of the debt if the actress ceases in her intentions to bring him back to trial.
File for bankruptcy
If the actress declared bankruptcy, it would not be a good strategy either, since it is an intentional crime, so she was aware of the consequences that she could face. For this reason, even if she hoped to remove the debt in this way, she could not, due to the laws that govern this type of process, since as determined by the jury, the actress acted "with malice" towards her ex-husband in her defamation.
To the actress is added, in addition, the matter of the non-payment of the millionaire donation that she was going to make to non-profit organizations that fight against domestic violence, which she promised to do after receiving compensation of seven million dollars for her divorce . Something that she intends to do as soon as possible, as she stated on the stand: "As soon as he stops suing me, I will."
