Amber Heard’s insurance company refuses to pay the damages over the defamation trial
2 min read
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Amber Heard wants her insurance company to pay a portion of the damages she owes to her former husband Johnny Depp after the defamation trial in May.
However, the company has straight-up refused to cover any cost related to Heard’s sensationalized libel case.
Here is everything you need to know.
Amber Heard’s insurance company says ‘no dice’ to cover damages
Amber Heard has a $1 million liability policy with New York Marine and General Insurance company. She hoped the organization would pay at least a portion of the damages bill she desperately needs to settle.
Furthermore, the policy includes different types of wrongful conduct including defamation. However, there is a clause that ensures the insurance company’s right to refuse to pay out.
The actress is covered by insurance that was issued under California law. According to California’s governing law, the insurance company can refuse to pay out if the insured (Heard) committed wrongful ‘willful’ misconduct.
NYMGI has claimed that the jury of the high-profile case had ruled Heard not only guilty but also called her defamation to be both ‘willful’ and ‘malicious’.
Moreover, the insurance company now wants a declaration from the judge noting that the Aquaman actress preplanned the defamation trial. The declaration will further grant the company legal grounds to not be responsible for a foot part of Heard’s bill.
Amber Heard still owes over $8.3 million to Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp filed a defamation case against Amber Heard over an op-ed that was published in the 2018 Washington Post.
In the post, the 36-year-old actress claimed to be a survivor of domestic abuse. Although Depp’s name was not mentioned in the article, he suffered career loss when he was fired from high-budgeted movies like Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean and Fantastic Beasts.
In the court filing, Depp claimed that Heard falsely accused him of being an abuser.
After six weeks of gruesome trial, the jury announced their verdict on 1st June. The jurors unanimously voted in favor of the 59-year-old actor.
Additionally, he was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. However, Heard’s lawyers alleged that the judge should reject the ruling since it was ‘excessive’ and ‘indefensible.’
Regardless, Heard was also awarded $2 million.
But the fact remains, that the actress still owes Depp more than $8.3 million in damages over the defamation trial.
Meanwhile, Depp is taking a much-needed vacation reportedly in Europe.
