Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and her husband, American businessman Durek Verrett, filed a defamation lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on September 14 against multiple former members of their inner circle. The couple alleges that the defendants—described as former intimate partners, trusted business associates, and a family member—weaponized private information and access to launch coordinated attacks against them and Verrett’s company, Ohana.
According to court filings, the alleged misconduct involved the unauthorized use of confidential communications, disputed accusations, and claimed insider knowledge. The total compensation being sought exceeds $80 million. The documents characterize the actions as a “calculated betrayal of trust” by individuals who previously held positions within the couple’s close circle and had been granted access to Verrett’s private life, family relationships, and business operations.
The litigation occurs amid a turbulent period for the Norwegian royal family. King Harald died in August at age 89 and was succeeded by his son Haakon, Märtha Louise’s brother. Princess Astrid, Harald’s sister, died at age 94 two days after attending his funeral in September. Additionally, the royal family has faced multiple scandals, including revelations regarding Queen Mette-Marit’s past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, and the queen underwent a lung transplant following a pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis.
Martha Louise and Verrett have drawn considerable public attention in recent years. In 2023, the princess renounced her royal duties before marrying Verrett, who identifies as a sixth-generation shaman, to focus on their alternative medicine business. The couple subsequently appeared in a Netflix documentary titled “Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story.”
The court papers note that while the alleged misconduct began years prior, it intensified during 2025 and 2026, a period marked by significant personal challenges for the couple, including Verrett’s kidney failure and transplant and the death of Märtha Louise’s father. The defendants are scheduled for hearings in December.
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