Defamation case against Duchess of Sussex by her half-sister dismissed by judge

ok.co.uk:

A US court has dismissed a defamation case brought against the Duchess of Sussex by her half-sister, Samantha Markle.The duchess, 41, was accused of spreading “demonstrably false and malicious lies” to a “worldwide audience” in the royal couple’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.

In a filing submitted in March last year, Samantha Markle claimed that “demonstrably false and malicious statements” were made by Meghan to a “worldwide audience”.The duchess previously filed a motion to stop depositions in the case from taking place, but this was dismissed by Florida US District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell last month. “Defendant Markle does not show that unusual circumstances justify the requested stay, or that prejudice or an undue burden will result if the court does not impose a stay,” the documents, obtained by the PA news agency, stated. “Defendant Markle does not satisfy the high standard required to stay discovery pending the resolution of a dispositive motion.” In their joint interview with US talk show host Winfrey in March 2021, Harry and Meghan spoke about both their families and made a series of allegations about the royal family.

But on Thursday, Judge Honeywell dismissed the lawsuit, saying the former Suits actress was expressing “an opinion about her childhood and her relationship with her half-sibling” and a statement of pure opinion was “not capable of being proved false”.

In court papers seen by the PA new agency, Judge Honeywell wrote: “As a reasonable listener would understand it, defendant merely expresses an opinion about her childhood and her relationship with her half-siblings.