Amber Heard Dealt Major Blow As Judge Refuses to Toss Verdict in Johnny Depp Defamation Case

Virginia Circuit Court Judge Penney Azcarate today denied the actress Amber Heard’s attempt to toss the verdict and $10.35 million judgment from the Johnny Depp defamation case.

Lawyers for Heard were seeking a mistrial on multiple grounds including that there was an apparent case of mistaken identity with Juror 15 in that the wrong person from a household reported to court.

Azcarate, who oversaw the original six-week trial, dismissed the claim and said that the juror filled out the jury questionnaire properly and was questioned by both sides.

“The parties also questioned the jury panel for a full day and informed the Court that the jury panel was acceptable,” the judge said.

Azcarate explained, “Therefore, due process was guaranteed and provided to all parties in this litigation.”

“There is no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing,” the judge declared.

Additionally, Azcarte pointed out that the “Defendant does not allege Juror 15’s inclusion on the jury prejudiced her in any way. 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,” the judge declared.

Judge Azcarate’s order denying #AmberHeard’s motion to set aside verdict or order a new trial. Short and to the point. She says there was no birth date on the summons for “Juror 15” so there’s no error and she didn’t claim prejudice @LawCrimeNetwork @lawcrimenews #JohnnyDepp pic.twitter.com/Dhp4uV87nC

— Angenette Levy (@Angenette5) July 13, 2022

Previously, we reported that Heard is relying on her homeowner’s policy to cover her costs to defend herself in the defamation lawsuit that was filed by her ex-husband Johnny Depp.

Now that the verdict is in and Heard owes Depp millions of dollars, New York Marine and General Insurance Co. has filed a lawsuit citing “willful” misconduct by Heard that lead to the defamation lawsuit.

Heard had a $1 million liability policy and while legal experts said that while using a homeowner’s insurance policy is common in defamation cases, most policies have a clause that stipulates judgment costs will not be covered.

Virginia lawyer Jeremiah Denton told the New York Post last month, “A lot of insurance policies provide coverage for defamation but they have an exclusion in, which says ‘We will not cover any intentional wrongdoing,’”