Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha launches new 'defamation' case against Duchess of Sussex
Meghan's half-sister Samantha launches new 'defamation' case against Duchess
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Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha Markle is "optimistic" about securing a trial against the Duchess of Sussex for a "defamation" case.
Samantha Markle, 58, visited a Florida court on Wednesday to try and secure a trial against Meghan, after losing her original defamation lawsuit earlier this year.
The duchess's older half-sister has claimed Meghan, 42, defamed her during her infamous Oprah Winfrey bombshell interview in 2021 with Prince Harry.
In addition, Samantha has accused the former working royal of defaming her during the couple's Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan.
WATCH NOW: Samantha Markle appears in court
The 58-year-old claimed that Meghan implied she was an "impostor" and a "charlatan".
Samantha is seeking damages in her claim against the duchess, exceeding $75,000 (£60,942).
She argued that Meghan's "defamatory" comments caused her book The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister to go down in sales.
Peter Ticktin, Samantha's lawyer, said his client is afraid to leave her house due to alleged harassment.
Meghan and Harry's Oprah interview took place in March 2021
PA
The older half-sister of the Duchess of Sussex suffers from multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair.
Michel Kump, Meghan's lawyer, stressed the 42-year-old's comments were not defamatory.
He said: "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."
Meghan and Harry released their Netflix docuseries in December 2022
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Meghan won Samantha Markle's original defamation lawsuit earlier this year
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Samantha originally brought a case against her half-sister in March 2022, relating to the claims made about her in Omid Scobie's royal biography, Finding Freedom.
However, the case was dismissed 12 months later.
The judge found that Meghan was expressing "an opinion about her childhood and her relationship with her half-sibling".
But Samantha is now trying to bring the case to trial again in Florida, with a greater emphasis on Meghan's Oprah interview and her Netflix docuseries.
She told The Sun: "I think the truth stands on its own, so I'm optimistic and thankful that we have a justice system that gives us the chance to present the facts."