Meghan Markle’s estranged half-sister keeps her legal team busy.
Samantha Markle recently filed an amended appeal after her third attempt to sue the Duchess of Sussex for defamation failed.
In March, a district judge in Florida dismissed the case, but that’s the way it stands.
“The court grants the motion to dismiss in its entirety,” wrote U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell of Florida’s Middle District in her ruling. “Plaintiff’s claims are dismissed with reservations because, up to this point, her third attempt, she has failed to present statements capable of supporting a claim for defamation or implied libel…”
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The appeal comes as no surprise. Samantha’s lawyer had released a statement at the time declaring his intention to appeal.
“We thought the judge had understood our arguments… Unfortunately, it now seems that our logic was misunderstood,” said Peter Ticktin. “We have a good chance of seeing a completely different result. So don’t count on us, we have only delayed it.”
Samantha filed the lawsuit in Tampa in March 2022, shortly after Meghan sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 where she revealed all. When asked about their relationship, Meghan told Oprah that the two women barely know each other despite having the same father and that she grew up as an only child.
The author of “The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister” disagrees, saying the two were once quite close and Meghan’s comments “destroyed her on a global level,” according to documents obtained by British newspaper The Sun.
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“She has made it to the point where Samantha cannot work or even do the most mundane things, like going to the grocery store without being harassed,” the lawsuit states. “Once respected in her small Florida community, Samantha now fears for her safety on a daily basis, having been forced to relocate more than once due to the very real threat of violence.”
The lawsuit originally sought more than $75,000 in damages for loss of her job, emotional and psychological distress, and “damage to her reputation and credibility.”
The next step: Samantha’s lawyers have requested a hearing on the matter, but no date has been set yet: “An oral hearing is desired as the issues may require clarification.”
