Johnny Depp appeals one ruling in defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard

The Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation saga may not be over yet, with the Pirates of the Caribbean star making a new move.

Actor Johnny Depp has appealed an “erroneous” ruling in the defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.

In court documents filed in Virginia’s Court of Appeals, Depp seeks to overturn the $3.18 million ($US2 million) jury verdict handed to Heard in June, reports the New York Post.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star was awarded $16.45 million ($US 10.35 million) over claims he was defamed by an opinion piece Heard wrote, where she made claims of domestic abuse.

On one count the jury ruled in Heard’s favour over her claims that Depp defamed her when his lawyer, Adam Waldman, claimed in an interview that her allegations were a hoax.

Actor Johnny Depp is appealing a ruling in the defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard. Picture: AFP

“The judgement in Ms Heard’s favour on that lone statement is erroneous,” Mr Depp’s 44-page appeal documents read.

Depp’s lawyers argued he could not be held legally liable for Mr Waldman’s comments simply because he hired him.

“As a matter of law, Mr. Waldman is an independent contractor, whose allegedly tortious conduct is not automatically attributable to Mr. Depp,” the court documents read.

Depp’s lawyers said Heard’s claim was “fatally flawed” and the court should have granted their client’s motion to strike down evidence relating to Waldman during the trial.

Amber Heard was ordered to pay $16.45 million to Johnny Depp in the defamation trial in June. Picture: AFP

“The jury’s emphatic favourable verdict on all three defamatory statements alleged in his complaint fully vindicated Mr Depp and restored his reputation,” the documents filed read.

“Indeed, Mr Depp prevailed in the trial court on virtually all material issues, and the verdict of the jury and judgment of the trial court represent an intelligent and well-reasoned decision on the merits after a full and fair trial and should be largely (though not entirely) affirmed.

“However, the trial court was confronted with a number of novel and complex legal and factual issues, and although the trial court decided the vast majority of those issues sensibly and correctly, a few rulings were erroneous.”

Depp filed first filed a notice of appeal about a month after the trial ended.

Heard also filed an appeal to nullify the verdict ordering her to pay more than $16 million in damages to Depp.

A judge had previously denied Heard’s request for a new trial.