Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
Justin Baldoni has accused his It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of defamation, civil extortion, and other allegations.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have indicated their intention to request the dismissal of the $400 million lawsuit filed against them by Justin Baldoni.
The couple filed a letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, outlining their legal plans on Thursday.
This follows a directive from Judge Lewis Liman, who ordered the parties to “indicate in one sentence the Defendant’s intent to make a motion to dismiss.” The federal judge will now set a deadline for Lively and Reynolds’ legal team to file the motion to dismiss.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s case is set to go to court on Monday, with the actress’ legal team prepared to discuss the possibility of a gag order. Lively’s team has criticized Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, for making multiple public statements that could influence the jury if Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Baldoni proceed to court.
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Lively’s counsel expressed concerns, stating, “As Ms. Lively’s counsel have attempted, repeatedly, to caution Mr. Freedman, federal litigation must be conducted in court and according to the relevant rules of professional conduct.” The letter continued, “His conduct threatens to, and will, materially prejudice both the Lively Case and the Wayfarer Case by tainting the jury pool, because his statements are deliberately aimed at undermining the ‘character, credibility, [and] reputation’ of numerous relevant parties.”
Baldoni’s legal team has stated their intention to proceed with Lively’s deposition as soon as possible. However, the actress has reportedly refused to allow Freedman to lead the deposition, according to a letter filed on Thursday.
Kevin Fritz, another attorney representing Baldoni, wrote, “We are unaware of any situation that would warrant the deposed party to have a choice in which attorney takes her deposition.” He added, “Parties to litigation simply do not have the right to dictate which of their opponents’ attorneys may or may not take their deposition or perform any other aspect of the opposing party’s case.”
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni became entangled in a legal dispute following their work on the Colleen Hoover-adapted film It Ends With Us. The Gossip Girl actress accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set and filed a lawsuit against him in December.
Lively’s lawsuit outlined allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and other claims against Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath. The complaint, initially filed with the California Civil Rights Department and later moved to federal court, highlighted several issues allegedly addressed at an “all-hands” meeting before filming resumed. These included directives to stop showing nude videos or images of women to Lively, refrain from discussing Baldoni’s past “pornography addiction,” avoid talking about personal sexual experiences, cease describing their own genitalia, not add sex scenes outside the original script, and halt discussions about Lively’s weight or deceased father, among other matters.
However, Justin Baldoni has insisted that Lively “falsely” accused him in an effort to repair her reputation following the fallout from the movie’s press tour. In his own lawsuit filed in January, Baldoni claimed that Lively’s accusations were a strategic move to salvage her image after she took control of the film.
Baldoni’s legal team argued that Lively lacked evidence of a deliberate smear campaign and was instead attempting to fix her public image by accusing him and others of sexual harassment.
Both Baldoni and Lively have denied the allegations made against them.
