Johnny Depp's legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard may not have concluded just yet.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Heard plans on appealing the verdict handed down by the jury following the conclusion of Depp's $50 million defamation lawsuit and trial. The Pirates of the Caribbean star was awarded $15 million in damages while Heard will receive $2 million. The grounds for Heard's appeal are currently unknown.
Following her loss, Heard issued a brief statement, labeling the outcome of the trial as a major setback for women around the world. "The disappointment I feel today is beyond words," Heard wrote. "I'm heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband. I'm even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women." The Aquaman star goes on to say that she believes that Depp's lawyers were successful in making the jury overlook "the key issue of Freedom of Speech."
Depp also addressed his victory, stating that the jury had given him his life back. "My decision to pursue this case, knowing very well the height of the legal hurdles that I would be facing and the inevitable, worldwide spectacle into my life, was only made after considerable thought," Depp wrote. "From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that."
The conclusion of the high-profile trial comes after several weeks of witness testimonies and cross-examinations. Depp originally sued Heard for $50 million, stating that she had defamed him by publishing an op-ed piece that falsely labeled him a "wife-beater." Depp also alleged that Heard physically abused him, a fact which she disputes, claiming that she only struck him in self-defense. Heard went on the record to say that Depp both physically and sexually assaulted her while they were married.
It's currently unknown when Heard plans to officially file her appeal to the jury's decision.
Source: Entertainment Weekly