Johnny Depp lawyer Benjamin Chew suggested during a TV appearance that Depp may not pursue his $10.35 million award against Amber Heard after securing a favorable jury verdict in his defamation lawsuit.
As soon as the jury at the Fairfax County courthouse in Virginia awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages (which was reduced to $350,000 due to state law), both Depp and Heard have made no secret of their respective relief and disappointment for what the verdict could mean for abuse victims who speak out.
But as the discourse along these lines continues, another question of what happens to Heard now that the case has been decided remains up in the air. Because while her lawyer Elaine Bredehoft has stated Heard can't pay the amount she owes, she's also stated her intent to appeal the judgment.
However, if a recent statement from one of Depp's lawyers turns out to hold true, Heard may have a way out of paying her hefty sum. But any such arrangement will likely come at an uncomfortable cost for the actress.