Overview

• A three-judge 11th Circuit panel heard oral arguments in Jacksonville on Sept. 9 in Samantha Markle’s appeal of her defamation suit’s dismissal.
• Chief Judge William Pryor questioned the appellant’s briefing, signaling reluctance to disturb the lower court’s ruling.
• Samantha’s appeal centers on alleged defamation by implication tied to Meghan’s 2021 Oprah interview and the 2022 Netflix series.
• The district court in Tampa dismissed the case with prejudice in 2024, finding key statements like “I grew up as an only child” to be protected opinion.
• If the panel affirms, the case effectively ends; a reversal would send it back to the trial court, with a written decision to follow later.