Meghan Markle’s half-sister in Florida is suing her — again. Here’s what we know
Meghan Markle’s estranged half sister is keeping her legal team busy.
Samantha Markle recently launched an appeal with an amended complaint after her third attempt to sue the Duchess of Sussex for defamation failed.
In March, a Florida district court judge threw out the case, but here we are.
“The Court grants the motion to dismiss, in full,” U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell from Florida’s Middle District wrote in the ruling. “Plaintiff’s claims will be dismissed with prejudice, as she has failed to identify any statements that could support a claim for defamation or defamation-by-implication by this point, her third try...”
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The appeal doesn’t come as too much of a shock. At the time Samantha’s lawyer released a statement stating an intention to do so.
“We thought that the judge understood our arguments ... Unfortunately, it now appears that our logic was missed,” Peter Ticktin said. “We have a decent chance to see a completely different outcome. So, don’t count us out, just delayed.”
Samantha filed the suit in Tampa in March 2022 soon after Meghan sat down for a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. When asked about their relationship, Meghan told Oprah the two women, despite sharing the same father, barely know each other, and she grew up as an only child.
“The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister” author disagrees, saying that they were once quite close and that Meghan’s comments have “destroyed her on a global scale,” according to documents obtained by UK’s The Sun.
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“She has made it so Samantha cannot work, or even enjoy the most mundane of activities, like going to the grocery store without harassment,” alleges the suit. “Once respected in her small Florida community, Samantha now fears for her safety daily, already having had to move more than once due to the very real threats of violence.”
The suit originally sought damages in excess of $75,000 due to lost employment, emotional and mental distress and “harm to her reputation and credibility.”
The next step: Samantha’s lawyers have requested a hearing on the matter, but no date was set: “Oral argument is desired as the issues may require some clarification.”
This story was originally published August 8, 2024 at 11:26 AM.
