US judge dismisses half-sister’s defamation case against Meghan Markle

The firing adds another layer to the ongoing legal battle.

A US judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought against Meghan Markle by her half-sister Samantha Markle. Samantha claims Meghan’s comments in the Netflix documentary and interview with Oprah Winfrey defamed her, British Broadcasting Corporation the report said.

Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell ruled that Meghan’s comments were either opinions, mostly accurate, or did not harm Samantha’s reputation. Importantly, the case was permanently dismissed, meaning Samantha could not litigate again on the same claim.

One of the points of contention was Samantha’s claim that Meghan Markle said she only changed her last name back to Markle after Meghan started dating Prince Harry. However, the judge noted that Samantha took the surname Rasmussen in 2016 and switched to Markle two months later, around the time news of Meghan’s relationship with the royal family became public.

But Judge Honeywell said in his ruling: “The court has noted the following facts: [Samantha] Taking on the surname Rasmussen in September 2016 and shortly two months later taking on the surname Markle [Meghan’s] Royal ties have been reported for the first time.

“The gist of the statement is therefore – [Samantha] Shortly after the report, her last name was used. [Meghan] Something to do with Prince Harry – it’s true. “

Another point of contention is Meghan’s description of their childhood relationship. Meghan Markle told Oprah, “I’m an only child and everyone I grew up with knew that,” meaning they weren’t close. However, the judge sided with Meghan, saying this was a reflection on their relationship.

The firing adds another layer to the ongoing legal battle. This is actually Samantha’s third attempt to sue Meghan for defamation. Previously, in 2022, she claimed Meghan was spreading lies by writing unauthorized biographies and discussing their relationship on television. The judge also dismissed the case, finding that Meghan could not be held responsible for the contents of the book.