The short version
- Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett filed a defamation suit in Los Angeles against former friends and business associates, accusing them of betraying trust by leaking confidential information.
- The lawsuit claims damages exceeding $80 million, citing a coordinated campaign that escalated during the couple's recent medical emergencies and the death of King Harald.
- The legal action unfolds amid broader turmoil for the Norwegian royal house, including the succession to Haakon VII and ongoing scandals involving Queen Mette-Marit.
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and her husband, American businessman Durek Verrett, have initiated a high-stakes defamation lawsuit in Los Angeles against several individuals who were once part of their closest social and professional circles. The legal filing, submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in mid-September, characterizes the defendants' actions as a calculated betrayal of trust that weaponized private access for public harm. The couple is seeking more than $80 million in compensation, according to reports from Norwegian media outlet VG.
The complaint identifies the accused parties as former intimate partners, trusted business associates, and even a family member. According to court documents, these individuals were granted significant entry into Verrett’s private life, family dynamics, client matters, and business operations based on relationships defined by intimacy and professional responsibility. The plaintiffs allege that this privileged position was exploited to disseminate confidential communications and disputed accusations, resulting in what they describe as a devastating series of public attacks.
The timing of the lawsuit coincides with an exceptionally difficult period for the Norwegian royal family. King Harald passed away in August at the age of 89, paving the way for his son Haakon to ascend the throne. Märtha Louise’s brother is now the monarch. The mourning period was further complicated by the death of Princess Astrid, the late king’s sister, who died two days after attending the funeral in September. The legal papers explicitly reference this recent loss as a factor influencing the plaintiffs' current circumstances.
Beyond the royal succession and bereavement, the couple has faced significant personal health challenges that the lawsuit cites as context for their vulnerability during the alleged misconduct. Verrett suffered serious kidney failure requiring dialysis and eventual transplantation, while Märtha Louise dealt with the emotional toll of losing her father. The filing notes that while the couple would have preferred to focus on recovery and grief, statutory deadlines necessitated proceeding with the legal action to preserve their rights regarding publications and conduct from 2025 and 2026.
The allegations suggest that the misconduct began years ago but intensified significantly in recent months. The documents argue that the defendants were not distant critics reporting from the outside but rather insiders who turned against those they had been welcomed by. This distinction is central to the plaintiffs' argument that the harm inflicted was disproportionate and malicious, stemming from a breach of confidence rather than legitimate public interest or journalistic inquiry.
This legal battle emerges against a backdrop of broader instability within the Norwegian royal institution. The family has been embroiled in multiple scandals recently, including revelations concerning Queen Mette-Marit’s past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Additionally, her son Marius Borg Høiby was convicted of two counts of rape in June. Queen Mette-Marit also underwent a lung transplant in the same month due to pulmonary fibrosis, highlighting the intense public and private pressures facing the royal house.
Märtha Louise and Verrett have long been subjects of media scrutiny. In 2023, before their marriage, the princess renounced her official royal duties to concentrate on their alternative medicine business, Ohana. Their unconventional path was further illuminated last year through a Netflix documentary titled Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story, which explored their relationship and lifestyle. Verrett describes himself as a sixth-generation shaman, a detail that has often drawn public attention and criticism.
Richard Roth, the couple’s attorney in the United States, stated that the plaintiffs’ reputations have been subjected to public judgment for years, but now the facts will be tested in a court of law. The lawsuit outlines two future hearings scheduled for December. As of the filing, neither the royal palace nor representatives for Märtha Louise and Verrett had provided additional comment to journalists seeking clarification on the specific allegations or the identities of all defendants.
The case underscores the complex intersection of private grievance and public persona in the digital age. By framing the dispute as a betrayal by insiders rather than an issue of free press, the plaintiffs aim to distinguish their claims from typical celebrity defamation suits. The outcome may offer insight into how legal systems handle allegations involving leaked private information from within close-knit social or business networks.
As the proceedings move forward, the focus will likely remain on whether the defendants’ actions constitute actionable defamation or protected speech. The substantial damages sought reflect the severity with which the couple views the impact of these publications on their personal well-being and professional standing. The resolution of this case could have implications for how similar disputes involving high-profile figures and their former associates are litigated in California courts.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Norwegian princess Märtha Louise and husband sue ex-friends for ‘betrayal of trust’
