Legal Showdown: Meghan Markle Fights Second Deposition in Sister's Defamation Suit

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is intensifying her legal battle against her half-sister, Samantha Markle, by seeking to avoid a second deposition in a high-profile defamation lawsuit. The duchess's legal team has argued that compelling her to sit for another deposition would impose an 'undue burden,' especially after she has already endured a seven-hour session in March 2023.

The protracted legal dispute stems from comments made by Meghan during her bombshell 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and further explored in the 2022 Netflix docuseries 'Harry & Meghan.' Samantha Markle alleges that her half-sister defamed her by painting her as a 'fantasist' who capitalized on Meghan's royal connection, specifically claiming Samantha only changed her surname to Markle after Meghan began dating Prince Harry.

Additionally, Samantha points to Meghan's statement to Oprah that she grew up as an 'only child,' a claim Samantha asserts is demonstrably false and damaging to her reputation.

In court documents filed on May 29, Meghan's attorneys strongly opposed Samantha's request for a second deposition. They emphasized that the duchess has already provided extensive testimony, asserting that a follow-up deposition would be 'harassing, cumulative, and duplicative.' The legal team highlighted the significant time and resources already dedicated to discovery, asserting that the remaining issues can be addressed through other means, such as written interrogatories or further document production.

Conversely, Samantha Markle's legal counsel is pushing hard for a second opportunity to question Meghan.

They contend that new evidence and statements made in the Netflix series, which aired after Meghan's initial deposition, warrant additional testimony. Samantha's lawyers argue that these newer statements need to be thoroughly examined to fully understand the extent of the alleged defamation and its impact.

This case has already seen significant legal maneuvers.

A federal judge previously denied Meghan's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed to the discovery phase. Meghan's defense has consistently maintained that her statements were either opinions, substantially true, or protected under the First Amendment and Florida's anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) statute, which aims to protect free speech from frivolous lawsuits.

The ongoing legal drama underscores the deep rift within the Markle family and continues to draw significant media attention.

The court's decision on whether to grant Samantha Markle's request for a second deposition will be a crucial turning point, potentially shaping the trajectory of this closely watched and contentious legal battle between the half-sisters.