Suppose A & B sue each other in court for some sort of tort, which may or may not be slander/libel (no difference, I would think). A is awarded $2M against B; B is awarded $10M against A. So it would seem at first glance that A writes B an $8M check.
But suppose A appeals the $10M judgment and B does not appeal the $2M judgment. What happens while A’s appeal is being heard? Does B have to write A a $2M check and hope to get it back plus another $8M if A’s appeal is rejected? Or can B hold onto the $2M verdict money until A’s appeal has reached final status?
Assuming B pays upfront, that might leave room for A to take the money and run, in the form of bankruptcy laws. E.g. buy a $2M mansion in a state which protects homes in bankruptcy, then declare bankruptcy against the $10M appeal, and keep the $2M regardless of the outcome of the appeal.
As it happens, in the specific case of Heard/Depp, I just read that Depp is also appealing the verdict against him, so I assume that’s on hold too. But I fell to wondering about what happened had he not done so.