Meghan Markle is once again facing a legal battle with her half-sister, Samantha Markle, as Samantha’s legal team prepares to challenge a previous defamation case verdict. The Dutchess of Sussex described herself as being raised primarily as an only child, a statement that Samantha’s lawyers argue is both false and damaging. Despite Meghan winning the initial case in Florida, Samantha has escalated the lawsuit to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal. Continue reading to know the full scoop!
Meghan To Fight Half Sister In The Court
Meghan Markle might face her half-sister Samantha Markle in court once more. Previously, Meghan had claimed in an Oprah Winfrey interview that she was mostly raised as an only child. She added that Samantha only changed her surname back to Markle when Meghan started dating Prince Harry.
Samantha’s legal team argued that Meghan’s comments were ‘disparaging, hurtful, and false.’ Although Meghan initially won the case in Florida, Samantha has now taken the lawsuit to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal. According to Express UK, Samantha’s lawyers have until July to file their initial brief.
A court document shown to Newsweek reveals, “Cumulative inferences and remarks made by [Meghan] have caused a cumulative meaning, which the court did not consider.” Samantha’s lawyers will argue that the judge only looked at Meghan’s comments individually, missing their combined effect.
In Meghan and Harry’s Netflix documentary series, Meghan mentioned that she spent weekdays with her mother and weekends with her father. However, she claimed she did not see her half-sister at their father’s house during childhood.
Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell initially dismissed the case, noting that Meghan’s statement only briefly referenced Samantha moving out of their father’s house at some point during Meghan’s childhood. The judge found it implausible that this statement would expose Samantha to ‘hatred, ridicule, or contempt.’
What Is Meghan’s True Intend?
Samantha’s lawyers intend to argue that Meghan was making a ‘broader attack’ in various interviews. They will contend that the cumulative impact of these statements was not adequately considered in the initial ruling. Lawyers representing the Duchess of Sussex have signalled their intention to oppose the appeal.
They assert that the judge applied standard procedures in what they characterise as a typical defamation lawsuit. Their statement said, “This is a garden-variety defamation action involving the application of well-established Eleventh Circuit precedent, which the District Court followed.”
Will Meghan manage to win for another time? We’ll have to see that! For more updates on Meghan Markle, stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily! Who do you side with? Meghan or Samantha? Drop in the comments box below!
