Meghan Markle has emerged victorious in a high-profile defamation lawsuit filed against her by her half-sister, Samantha Markle. The lawsuit, which was dismissed with prejudice by a Florida District Court judge, signifies that Samantha cannot refile the claim.
Court documents revealed that Samantha failed to provide any evidence to support her defamation allegations, despite multiple attempts to amend her complaint. The judge specifically noted that there were no instances of defamation found in various media sources, including Meghan and Prince Harry's Netflix docu-series, the book 'Finding Freedom' by Omid Scobie, and the couple's interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The judge highlighted that the statements made by Meghan and Prince Harry regarding Samantha and their father, Thomas Markle, were deemed as expressions of opinion rather than defamation. Samantha's lawsuit, filed in March 2022, accused Meghan of making false and malicious statements during her interview with Winfrey, including claims about their familial relationship and interactions.
In response to the lawsuit, Meghan's legal team labeled the claims as 'meritless' and emphasized that courts are not equipped to judge the legitimacy of personal feelings and relationships. Meghan's attorney further dismissed the lawsuit as baseless and absurd, describing it as part of a pattern of disturbing behavior.
Samantha had sought $75,000 in damages along with court and attorney fees. However, the judge's decision to dismiss the case with prejudice signifies a significant legal victory for Meghan Markle in this high-profile defamation lawsuit.
