Harry & Meghan: Legal Actions against the Media

[Osipi]

Win or lose, this case serves the Sussexes well. With this case now being postponed, delayed or whatever you want to call it until the fall, it remains a fact that Harry and Meghan will not stand back and allow invasion of their privacy rights to happen with whomever would choose to "attack" them wrongfully.

The legal case remains a red flag of warning to media outlets that this couple can and will take them to court if there is a legal reason to do so.

[poppy7]

Originally Posted by Osipi

Win or lose, this case serves the Sussexes well. With this case now being postponed, delayed or whatever you want to call it until the fall, it remains a fact that Harry and Meghan will not stand back and allow invasion of their privacy rights to happen with whomever would choose to "attack" them wrongfully.

The legal case remains a red flag of warning to media outlets that this couple can and will take them to court if there is a legal reason to do so.

The case is a farce and there is no one harassing them at the moment and apart from the birth of another kid or two, this interest will continue to decline. They should get themselves a podcast. They have have some success with one of those. But if course their problem is that they need the public interest to get money to do what they want to do.

[Denville]

The issue was copyright and the problem had arisen partly because of someone in her own family.... and now it looks as if they are not thatn keen on its going to trial because it will take a long time and their image, which isn't all that good at present, may take a hit depending on what might come out in court.

[ACO]

Originally Posted by Denville

But if there is no trial, just a judgement, then they are hardly prolonging the case.

Correct. That is the goal. They were granted the delay but they clearly hoping ti just wrap it up. They will learn if they can in January.

[poppy7]

Originally Posted by Denville

The issue was copyright and the problem had arisen partly because of someone in her own family.... and now it looks as if they are not thatn keen on its going to trial because it will take a long time and their image, which isn't all that good at present, may take a hit depending on what might come out in court.

And it won't recover either. They don't have the available time that the royals had during the 90's to wait out lack of support. In the celeb world, if you are gone, you are gone. With no desirnable talent or USP what do they have to offer? Being royal? Well there are the real ones of those.

Originally Posted by ACO

Correct. That is the goal. They were granted the delay but they clearly hoping ti just wrap it up. They will learn if they can in January.

A summary judgement is usually so weighted in one direction that it is undebatable. As in you opened my diary, whilenin my house, copied it down and printed.

I don't think they will get one. Water is too muddied with their own complicit leaking.

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by Denville

The issue was copyright and the problem had arisen partly because of someone in her own family.... and now it looks as if they are not thatn keen on its going to trial because it will take a long time and their image, which isn't all that good at present, may take a hit depending on what might come out in court.

All initiated by one of her friends leaking the existence of the letter and misrepresenting it to a magazine.

[angieuk]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...plication.html

Thomas Markle gives NEW statement to press re new October 2021 date.... I could die tomorrow!

[Madame Verseau]

Meghan's dad is partly driving this. The Mail's lawyer is arguing Daddy's health is failing and they need to get him on the stand quickly. Markle, through the Mos lawyer, is claiming he could die any day now and he is tired being labeled a bad father - a label he slapped on himself. He wants his day in court, DM wants him to perform and generate headlines and clicks. The summary judgment in my opinion stops Meghan from getting on the stand and testify against Dad. Her lawyers probably told Meghan if Markle gets on the stand they can't pull their punches on him. Markle's credibility has to be challenged rigorously to get a court win. If Meghan tells her lawyers to throw softballs at her father it's a wrap for her. The delay buys time; time the Mail doesn't want. More time passes, the less control the paper has on Markle and if he were to pass away there goes their star witness. Putting the rest of the Markles on the stand is unless because Meghan will have no problem to have her lawyers shred them.

[Curryong]

I didn't know he was so eager to be cross examined in the witness box about his many contradictory statements since 2017!

However Thomas said exactly the same thing two and a half years ago after the May 2018 wedding. Of course people in their 70s (or any other age) can die suddenly. However, it is highly likely that he will be saying the same thing after the court case proceeds in 2021.

[Osipi]

Anyone else besides me, reading about Tom Markle's wishes to "have his day in court because of his "image", get the picture of a trained circus monkey? Ego does tend to make people seek an overdose of attention sometimes and this is what comes to mind for me.

The actual case doesn't seem to matter to dear ol' dad. What the world thinks of him does. He's brought this on himself.

His "statement" irritates me to *no* end. Yes, the man has health problems and could "die tomorrow". So could I. I just spent six hours in the hospital ER room yesterday because my kidneys have totally failed and in the process of determining if dialysis will be the way to go. Its *progress* to me. Its taking care of business and taking measures to correct a situation to improve quality of life. Of course, I *could* adopt a "poor little old me" attitude but that does me absolutely no good whatsoever.

Sorry for the rant but right now Mr. Markle just happens to be ticking me off the wrong way!

[Somebody]

What would be acceptable grounds for such a long delay? If it is due to not being able/willing to travel due to Covid, it doesn't make sense to prolong until autumn but could be delayed on a 'needs-basis'. Given that it is specified that the primary reason the delay was granted was 'confidential'; the most likely reason imho is a pregnancy. That would explain such a long delay.

N.B. I hope this suggestion (which has nothing to do with her being visibly pregnant but trying to come up with a logical explanation for what happened today) is allowed on TRF; if not, feel free to remove.

[Osipi]

My guess is that the "confidential" reason for the delay is nothing more than adhering to travel restrictions and health preservation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only for Harry and Meghan's sake but for *everyone* that would have to be in the same place at the same time that this case would have to be heard in court.

Could be anything though, to be honest. We'll really never know.

[Madame Verseau]

With all the ailments Markle cited he is way vulnerable to COVID 19. Testimony via ZOOM should be sufficient not matter the trial date. I think DM is using Markle to manipulate Meghan to drop the case. I wonder if the confidentiality is Meghan's lawyers got something on Dad that will blow up the case? DM lawyers didn't contest the decision.

[Osipi]

We can speculate until the cows come home (still need to know where those cows go in the first place) but we're never going to know. I think its best we just take the facts that are presented to us and form opinions on those.

For all we know, Mr. Markle may have the inside scoop of a *huge* alien invasion of beings from Zygoria aiming for Earth with an unquenchable hunger for Big Macs but is under a gag order. Only the DM *knows* for sure.

[Lord_Royal]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

It seems they’re asking for three different things

1. A Summary Judgement
2. Postponement of trial if Summary Judgment is not granted
3. They are appealing Justice Warby’s ruling to allow the MoS to include Finding Freedom in their case

IMO, it seems that Meghan has been made to understand that her friends and Socbie are not willing to perjure themselves and they’re trying to do damage control. It’s all about PR and optics. If their reputation gets tarnished by this, Netflix might back away.

That is my view of it as well. This is a strategic decision to keep witnesses and cross examination under oath out the equation.

If the Sussexes lose on summary judgment, they can use the old chestnut "we respect the Court's decision" and put some PR spin and then it's over and Meghan, and her friends and associates, will never have had to give viva voce evidence.

Credibility is an issue in this matter, which makes summary judgment difficult to obtain, which is why if it's not granted, they wanted the trial adjourned so that it could get settled or withdrawn.

[poppy7]

Originally Posted by Lord_Royal

That is my view of it as well. This is a strategic decision to keep witnesses and cross examination under oath out the equation.

If the Sussexes lose on summary judgment, they can use the old chestnut "we respect the Court's decision" and put some PR spin and then it's over and Meghan, and her friends and associates, will never have had to give viva voce evidence.

Credibility is an issue in this matter, which makes summary judgment difficult to obtain, which is why if it's not granted, they wanted the trial adjourned so that it could get settled or withdrawn.

No. If they loose on summary judgement, which basically involves the Judge saying that the it case is so strong there is no point going to trial, they will have to go trial. Unless they withdraw their case. The Mail have refused to settle.

Originally Posted by Madame Verseau

With all the ailments Markle cited he is way vulnerable to COVID 19. Testimony via ZOOM should be sufficient not matter the trial date. I think DM is using Markle to manipulate Meghan to drop the case. I wonder if the confidentiality is Meghan's lawyers got something on Dad that will blow up the case? DM lawyers didn't contest the decision.

No one needs to appear in person. It can all be done via zoom. Don't be naive. The Mail want this case, it is column inches. They couldn't care less if they are found at fault.

[QueenMathilde]

I don't see the problem. Give Markle his day in court if that's what he wants. If he was the worst father in the world it will come out in court.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by QueenMathilde

I don't see the problem. Give Markle his day in court if that's what he wants. If he was the worst father in the world it will come out in court.

He has his faults but from what I've seen of him he's not the worst father in the world.

[winifred]

Originally Posted by Denville

He has his faults but from what I've seen of him he's not the worst father in the world.

Of course there are worse human beings, but selling your daughter for money and fame, not once, but repeatedly, and ruining what should have been a wonderful, happy time in the run up to her wedding, doesn't make him a candidate for father of the year either.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by janet14

Of course there are worse human beings, but selling your daughter for money and fame, not once, but repeatedly, and ruining what should have been a wonderful, happy time in the run up to her wedding, doesn't make him a candidate for father of the year either.

No but IMO Meghan doesn't seem to have been the most devoted daughter in latter years, Seems like she didn't visit him even to have him meet her boyfriend/fiance.. and I think that he is a sick man, probably embarrassed by financial problems and he perhaps intended to go to the UK and walk her down the aisle but lost his nerve...