Meghan Markle’s Sister Sues Her Again For Defamation

Meghan Markle's estranged half-sister Samantha Markle is pushing for another legal battle against the Duchess of Sussex.

After losing her initial defamation lawsuit against Meghan earlier this year, Samantha, who shares a father with the duchess, is now trying to bring the case to trial again in Florida.

On Wednesday, the 58-year-old visited a court in Tampa, Florida, in a bid to stop her new case against her half-sister from being dismissed.

"I think the truth stands on its own, so I'm optimistic and thankful that we have a justice system that gives us the chance to present the facts," the author said outside the federal court, as seen in video footage published by The Sun.

Samantha went on to slam the former actress' statement that they barely knew each other.

"People change, they have agendas, they have other things influencing their lives, and, you know, it doesn't change reality," she said. "It doesn't change my heart, I think I'm a lot stronger than that, but it's sad. I think got to live with that, and hopefully some day she can embrace the truth and a better part of herself. I would want that for her, but until then, I have to get back a lot of my life that was lost from a lot of damage over several years. All we can do is move forward based on truth and positivity."

After hearing arguments over the Duchess of Sussex's request for the suit to be thrown out, Judge Charlene Honeywell is expected to give a written judgment in the next month, Court TV reported.

The crux of Samantha's claim revolves around Meghan's statements during her and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 and the couple's Netflix docuseries, "Harry & Meghan."

Samantha contends that Meghan allegedly defamed her by implying she was an "impostor" and a "charlatan." 

She is seeking damages exceeding $75,000, asserting that Meghan's alleged defamatory comments negatively impacted her book, "The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister."

Peter Ticktin, Samantha's lawyer, highlighted the toll the situation has taken on the author, emphasizing her fear of leaving her house due to alleged harassment.

In response, Michael Kump, Meghan's lawyer, argued that the duchess' statements were not defamatory.

Kump stated, "This has always been a lawsuit in search of a viable claim. The case has failed because it runs head first up against defamation law and the First Amendment."

The legal saga began in March 2022 when Samantha initially filed a case, focusing on claims made about her in Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand's Sussex biography, "Finding Freedom."

The lawsuit also addressed Meghan's Oprah interview, where the former "Suits" star allegedly stated that she "grew up as an only child" and that Samantha changed her last name back to Markle after the duchess began dating Prince Harry. 

However, the case was dismissed 12 months later by Honeywell, who ruled that Meghan "cannot be held liable for statements in a book she did not publish."

The judge further said that Meghan's statements about her childhood and relationship with half-siblings were expressions of opinion rather than objectively verifiable claims.

According to GB News, Samantha's latest defamation case against the Duchess of Sussex places renewed emphasis on Meghan's Oprah interview and the Netflix docuseries.