Meghan Markle is slated for a legal trial against her half-sister, Samantha Markle, as a judge sets the date for this high-profile legal clash, reported GB News.
Samantha, aged 59, initiated a defamation lawsuit against the Duchess of Sussex in March 2022, asserting that Meghan's statements during her 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview caused her "humiliation, shame, and hatred on a worldwide scale."Initially dismissed by a judge a year later, citing Meghan's remarks as opinions, the lawsuit has been refiled with alterations that a judge has deemed meritorious.The dispute revolves around Meghan's Oprah interview, during which the duchess, now 42, claimed to be an "only child," contradicting Samantha's stance.The amended lawsuit excludes Samantha's initial claims that Meghan intentionally defamed her by providing information to the authors of Finding Freedom and that Meghan asserted Samantha "dropped out of high school."The trial is scheduled to commence on November 4, 2024, in Tampa, Florida, with Samantha seeking up to $75,000 (59,000).
The proceedings are anticipated to span up to five days.
Samantha contends that Meghan's Oprah interview was "demonstrably false and malicious," attributing a decline in her book sales to the duchess's comments.Meghan, as per civil court rules, is not expected to attend the trial.
Samantha's lawsuit details strained family relations, alleging hostility from Meghan after she began dating Prince Harry.
Samantha claims to have faced death threats and suspension of her X account following the airing of the Netflix series Harry - Meghan.The legal battle unfolds against the backdrop of familial estrangement, with Samantha asserting that Meghan's success led to a rift in their relationship, exacerbating tensions with other family members.