MEGHAN Markle’s lawyer has broken his silence after a fan threatened a £7million lawsuit, claiming the Duchess’ bath salt recipe left her with “catastrophic burns”.
In a letter, lawyer Cameron Stracher said Robin Patrick, who is a diabetic, should have been aware of the risks associated with the mixture.
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The Maryland fan had tried the recipe after seeing it in Meghan’s Netfflix show, With Love, Meghan.
Speaking to RadarOnline.com, she later claimed she had experienced “intense burning” and “ulcers” after using the salts – and was still feeling the effects.
The recipe – which Meg, 43, made for pal Daniel Marin on Episode 1 of the show – contains Epsom salts, Himalayan salt, arnica oil, and lavender oil.
But Epsom salts are not recommended for those suffering from diabetes – as they can lead to skin drying and cracking.
Often, diabetics already have dry feet or nerve damage on their legs and feet, according to MedicalNewsToday – so further irritation risks causing wounds or infections, which are likely to heal more slowly in those with high blood sugar.
Robin, however, has threatened to sue both production companies behind the show – Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) and Archewell Productions – as well as Netflix and Meghan herself for $10 million (£7million) in damages.
In a letter on behalf on IPC, seen by The Independent, Cameron said the company regretted to hear any injurie Robin “may have suffered”.
However, he asserted that none of the parties responsible for the series owed her a duty of care “because you do not have a special relationship with any of them as a matter of law“.
There is nothing “inherently dangerous” about Meghan’s recipe, he added – and it did not therefore constitute a “clear and present danger to the public”.
The lawyer also argued that Robin had herself admitted that the cause of her injuries was her diabetes.
He went on: “The use of Epsom salts is contraindicated for individuals with diabetes except on the advice of a physician.
“It was not foreseeable that you would disregard the instructions on the Epsom salt packaging in attempting to make and use your own bath salts.
“For this separate reason, there can be no negligence claim against anyone involved in the production or distribution of the Series.”
Robin claimed the damages were necessary to cover a host of mental and physical ailments caused by the bath salts.
These allegedly include “emotional distress, potential post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), loss of confidence in appearance, disfigurement, shortened life expectancy, and long-term medical care for injuries that may worsen over time.”
She is also seeking $75,000 (£56,000) in compensatory damages to cover medical expenses and other costs.
However, Robin said she was willing to resolve the matter if a financial settlement was agreed outside court.
Recalling the experience, she told RadarOnline: “As the water level rose to cover my legs and reached my buttocks, I began to feel burning and significant discomfort in those areas…
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“That evening, while showering, I experienced intense burning as water contacted the affected areas, which had developed into ulcers.”
She added: “Since the incident, I have endured persistent burning, discomfort, and the emergence of new blister-like sores and ulcers daily.”
Some skincare experts previously raised concerns over the recipe, warning that its high concentration of essential oils – without being diluted by a carrier oil – could lead to skin irritation.
The Sussexes have been contacted for comment.
This week, Meghan revealed she had used an ancient Indian medicine doctor and ingested mushrooms to help cope with pregnancy.
Speaking to businesswoman Hannah Mendoza in Episode 5 of her Confessions of a Female Founder podcast, Meghan said: “I think a lot of people when they hear mushrooms, they go ‘OK, she’s talking about being hippie-dippy, grounded in all these things’.
“If you aren’t familiar with adaptogens, you can go to this place of ‘Oh, it’s feeling a little psychedelic and super woo-woo’.”
She added that she also used an Ayurvedic practitioner during both of her pregnancies.
This week also saw Meghan post a rare picture of Prince Archie to celebrate his sixth birthday.
Sharing the stunning picture on social media, the Duchess of Sussex celebrated her “sweet boy”, while Harry missed the celebrations.
The Prince is currently launching his Pledge to Invest scheme in collaboration with the Diana Award in Las Vegas.