Lawyers for actors Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively clashed in court on the first day of their ongoing legal battle. The hearing was held at a federal court in Manhattan. It focused on the sexual harassment allegations and defamation claims surrounding their film It Ends With Us.
Here is what happened to Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s lawyers.
What happened to Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s lawyers?
In a heated court session on Monday, attorneys for Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively met to discuss the ongoing legal battle over serious allegations surrounding their film It Ends With Us. Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her, while Baldoni has countersued for defamation.
The courtroom confrontation grew tense as Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, accused Baldoni’s legal team of making public remarks that were damaging to her character. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, responded by claiming that his client was “devastated financially and emotionally.” (via BBC)
Neither Lively nor Baldoni attended the pretrial hearing. Their lawyers presented their respective arguments, including the negative impact the case has had on both sides.
Judge Lewis Liman warned that further media coverage could force the trial date to be moved up in order to avoid potential juror bias. It is currently set for March 2026. During the pretrial hearing, the judge also addressed the need for a protective order. This order would be crucial in safeguarding those involved in the case from any further harassment or abuse by the parties involved. Both Baldoni’s and Lively’s legal teams must come to an agreement on this matter.
Lively’s attorneys also revealed plans to file an amended complaint by February 14. It would include additional claims and new defendants. Meanwhile, Baldoni has filed a libel lawsuit against The New York Times. The lawsuit alleges that Lively provided them with advance access to her civil rights complaint.
