Samantha Markle, the half-sister of Meghan Markle, has recently filed a libel lawsuit against the Duchess of Sussex.
In her lawsuit, Samantha accuses Meghan of making false and malicious statements about their upbringing.
This legal battle has gained significant attention and has raised important questions about free speech and the limits of public figures speaking out about their experiences.
The lawsuit was filed in March 2022 after Meghan claimed in an interview with Oprah and in the biography “Finding Freedom” that she grew up as an only child.
Samantha alleges that these statements made by Meghan are clearly false and malicious.
She is seeking £62,000 ($75,000) in damages and has requested evidence from Meghan, her father Thomas Markle, Prince Harry, her daughter Ashley Hale, Kensington Palace Communications Secretary Jason Knopf, and Christopher Bowsey, the founder of Bot Sentinel.
Meghan’s legal team has been working to have the case dismissed by the U.S. District Court in Tampa, Florida, in order to avoid questioning by Samantha’s lawyers.
However, Meghan’s team has received a major win as the deadline for evidence sharing has been pushed back to July 3rd.
Furthermore, the judges have denied Samantha’s request to force Meghan to arrange any depositions, instead instructing both parties to resolve the issue themselves.
This ruling is a significant victory for Meghan’s legal team as it relieves some pressure and allows them more time to respond to the motion to dismiss the case before providing any evidence.
Meghan’s lawyers argue that the depositions, especially that of Thomas Markle, would be an unnecessary waste of time and resources.
Former U.S. Federal Prosecutor Mitchell Eppner has warned Samantha that if she loses the defamation case, she may be required to pay Meghan’s legal fees, which could exceed $100,000.
This lawsuit is just the latest chapter in an ongoing feud between Meghan and her half-sister Samantha, who has been a vocal critic of Meghan in the media, accusing her of abandoning her family.
Meghan, on the other hand, has mostly remained silent on the matter, except for her comments during the Oprah interview and in the biography.
Legal experts are closely watching this case as it raises important questions about free speech and the ability of public figures to share their experiences.
Meghan’s lawyers argue that Samantha’s lawsuit is an attempt to silence Meghan and prevent her from speaking out about her time as a member of the royal family.
The financial implications of this case are also significant for both parties, as legal fees can quickly accumulate in high-profile cases like this one.
The outcome of the lawsuit remains uncertain, but the extension of the evidence-sharing deadline is undoubtedly a major win for Meghan and her legal team.
As we await further developments, it is important to consider the potential impact of Meghan Markle’s defamation lawsuit on the future of free speech and the ability of public figures to share their experiences.
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Will this case set a precedent?
Only time will tell.
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