In a significant win for Meghan Markle, a judge has dismissed the defamation lawsuit brought against her by her estranged half-sister, Samantha Markle.
The lawsuit, which stemmed from comments made by Meghan during her explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey and the couple’s Netflix docuseries, has been thrown out with prejudice.
Defamation lawsuit against Meghan Markle
Samantha Markle’s lawsuit alleged that Meghan had defamed her through various statements made during the highly publicized Oprah Winfrey interview and the Netflix docuseries, “Harry & Meghan.”
Had the case proceeded to trial, Meghan would have been compelled to release private documents and messages relevant to the case.
In a decisive ruling dated March 12, Judge Charlene Honeywell dismissed the case, stating, “The Court grants the motion to dismiss, in full. \[Samantha Markle’s\] claims will be dismissed with prejudice, as she has failed to identify any statements that could support a claim for defamation or defamation-by-implication by this point, her third try at amending her complaint, in either the book Finding Freedom, the Netflix series Harry & Meghan, or \[Meghan Markle\] and her husband’s hour-long televised CBS Interview. As such, the Third Amended Complaint will be dismissed, with prejudice.”
Meghan’s legal team expressed their satisfaction with the ruling.
Christopher Bouzy, founder of data firm Bot Sentinel, who was also named in the lawsuit, told Newsweek:
“The court has rightly dismissed what was nothing more than a meritless lawsuit, recognizing it for the baseless claim it was. This decision not only vindicates Meghan but also serves as a stern rebuke to those who seek to manipulate the legal system for personal vendettas.”
On the other hand, Samantha Markle’s attorney, Peter Ticktin, expressed surprise at the outcome and stated their intention to appeal the decision.
“Frankly, I am surprised at this outcome, as I thought that her Honor was understanding and accepting our position, especially when she inquired as to whether certain allegations were in the Complaint,” Ticktin told Newsweek. “Unfortunately, ultimately, our position was completely ignored. The more the statements were taken singularly, the more the meaning of them were lost. They had to be looked at collectively.”
Ticktin further added, “We will be filing a Notice of Appeal,” indicating that the legal battle between the half-sisters may not be over yet.