28 November 2023 , 08:51
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Meghan Markle could be heading to court next year after her half-sister Samantha Markle accused her of defamation during her tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The Duchess of Sussex sat down for a bombshell chat with the talk show host back in 2021. During the interview, Meghan said she had been raised as an "only child" and "doesn't really know" Samantha.
Samantha, 59, has alleged 42-year-old Meghan defamed her when she made the claims. Samantha alleges the statements have damaged the credibility of her 2021 book The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister Part 1. In the book, Samantha details her relationship with Meghan growing up.
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Meghan Markle has been accused of defamation following her interview with Oprah Winfrey (Harpo Productions)Samantha is now seeking $75,000 (£59,000) in damages. A provisional trial date has been set for November 2024, with "in person" meetings set to take place beforehand. Meghan will not have to make an appearance if the case goes to trial as it is in civil court.
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The case comes after the Duchess of Sussex successfully had Samantha's initial lawsuit dismissed. Samantha brought the defamation case against her younger half-sister in March 2022, alleging the Duchess had defamed her by giving information to an unauthorised biography called Finding Freedom and by discussing their relationship with Oprah on live TV.
Samantha was suing her half-sister, who shares the same father, for damages, claiming Meghan defamed and embarrassed her by saying she was raised as an "only child". According to Samantha, the allegations subjected her to "humiliation, shame and hatred on a worldwide scale".
Samantha Markle is seeking $75,000 in damages (YOUTUBE/SPOTLIGHT)It was thrown out in March this year after a US District Judge ruled that Meghan's comments were "not capable of being proven false" as they were opinions. Samantha then filed an amended complaint the following month, focusing on the Oprah interview. Meghan was accused of spreading "demonstrably false and malicious lies" to a "worldwide audience".
A Florida judge ruled in favour of Meghan and dismissed the lawsuit, saying the former Suits actress was expressing "an opinion about her childhood and her relationship with her half-sibling". However, the judge did give Samantha the opportunity to partially refile her claim.
Speaking to LBC outside of court when the provisional date was set, Samantha admitted she feels "optimistic" this time around. Meghan's lawyer, Michael Kump, told the publication: "This has always been a lawsuit in search of a viable claim. The case has failed because it runs head first up against defamation law and the First Amendment."