Meghan Markle and Harry: Expert issues warning on lawsuits

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters.Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer.Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights.You can unsubscribe at any time.

Meghan Markle has been at legal war with Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) for two years since extracts of a personal letter to her father, Thomas Markle, were first published. The latest developments in Meghan’s trial has seen the Duchess of Sussex ask for ANL’s defence to be thrown out as “utterly fanciful”, which would deliver her a monumental victory. At the centre of the bitter battle is a five-page letter addressed to Meghan’s dad in 2018, sent to his Mexico home.

The handwritten letter was sent through a trusted contact who knew Thomas Markle, discussing their broken relationship and pleading with him to stop talking to the media.

Meghan’s lawyers say the contents of the letter were “intrinsically private, personal and sensitive”.

The words touched on her love for him, concerns over his health and her “sense of betrayal over his denial of working with the paparazzi”.

Just before Meghan and Harry’s wedding, Mr Markle was accused of staging paparazzi photos for money when he was due to walk his daughter down the aisle.

The existence of the letter was first revealed in an eight-page article in US magazine, People, after a close friend of the Duchess revealed she had written and asked her dad to stop “victimising” her.

Three days later, on February 9, 2019, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline articles were published containing substantial parts of the letter.

A further four articles were published by the media group, which Meghan says amounted to a huge breach of her privacy.

The Duchess also says by publishing the letter, the group misused private information, breached copyright laws and intruded into her private life.

She says the message to her father was never intended for public consumption and contained extremely personal and private information.

The Duchess said the pain she was suffering was as a result of the breakdown of her and her dad’s relationship.

Meghan launched the High Court claim in October 2019, setting up a legal battle which made the front pages all over the world.

The Duchess is now seeking summary judgement in her case by arguing ANL’s defence is hopeless and doesn’t stand a chance of winning.

DON’T MISS
Prince Harry on same ‘forced path’ as Princess Anne’s ex Mark Phillips [INSIGHT]
Meghan Markle and Harry fans demand new Archewell podcast episode [REPORT]
John Humphrys’ anger as BBC ‘used as PR exercise’ by Prince Harry [ANALYSIS]

Meghan’s own lawyers described the defence as “prolix, diffuse and lacking in clarity”, asking Mr Justice Warby, the presiding judge on the case, to hand her a victory.

ANL is fighting the legal move by arguing this is a case that can only be resolved with a full trial.

While Meghan has brought this legal claim to protect her privacy, she is likely to find her personal life under even more scrutiny in the following months.

Thomas Markle is expected to be among one of ANL’s witnesses, and the Duchess herself would likely have to give evidence and face questions about her personal dealings.

When is the Meghan Markle court case?

Well, that all depends on what happens next.

If the Judge refuses to stop the case and doesn’t give Meghan the summary judgment she’s after, the trial will take place in Autumn 2021.

The case was supposed to be heard this month, but was delayed after a request by Meghan to which ANL did not oppose.

Mr Justice Warby is expected to deliver his judgement at a later date, through which we will inevitably know more.

Source: Read Full Article