Blake Lively has requested a federal choose to intervene in her authorized dispute with Justin Baldoni, accusing his attorneys of misconduct throughout discovery.
The actress’s authorized group is looking for sanctions and a second deposition for one skilled witness, together with her case, which incorporates allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation, set for trial in Might 2026.
In the meantime, Blake Vigorous and Justin Baldoni are scheduled to attend a compulsory settlement convention in New York on February 11.
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Blake Vigorous Accuses Justin Baldoni’s Attorneys Of Crossing Moral Traces Throughout Discovery
Vigorous’s attorneys have demanded {that a} federal choose intervene in her ongoing authorized dispute with Baldoni, accusing his authorized group of repeated misconduct in the course of the discovery course of.
In a letter dated December 19 and addressed to U.S. District Court docket Choose Lewis J. Liman, Vigorous’s legal professionals request sanctions towards Baldoni’s attorneys, alleging they crossed skilled and moral strains throughout depositions.
Court filings reviewed by Folks Journal declare opposing counsel posed intrusive questions on Vigorous’s sexual and romantic previous, matters her authorized group argues are irrelevant and inappropriate to the case.
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In line with the submitting, Baldoni’s legal professionals additionally displayed what Vigorous’s attorneys describe as a “fundamental lack of decorum,” together with frequent talking objections, interruptions, and habits they are saying was demeaning towards witnesses.
Legal professional Michael J. Gottlieb wrote that protection counsel repeatedly disrupted depositions, even these they weren’t instantly defending, utilizing the time to lecture and belittle contributors on the document.
Vigorous’s authorized group says they beforehand warned Baldoni’s attorneys to cease. A September 29 letter referenced within the submitting formally objected to what they known as “unprofessional habits,” drawing a agency boundary towards any questioning associated to Vigorous’s sexual or romantic historical past.
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Her attorneys argued such inquiries are prohibited and cited rape protect legal guidelines designed to forestall that sort of examination in court docket.
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Blake Vigorous Seeks Sanctions And New Deposition As Lawsuit Heads Towards 2026 Trial
Along with looking for sanctions, Vigorous can also be requesting that considered one of Baldoni’s skilled witnesses be ordered to endure a second deposition.
Her attorneys declare the primary session was compromised after protection counsel allegedly “impeded, delayed, and pissed off the truthful examination.” They’re additionally looking for reimbursement for prices tied to the extra deposition.
The case is at the moment scheduled for trial on Might 18, 2026. Vigorous initially filed go well with in December of final yr, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional misery. She alleges he engaged in physique shaming and coordinated efforts to wreck her public picture.
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Justin Baldoni’s Countersuit Was Dismissed
Her lawsuit names a number of extra defendants, together with Baldoni’s firm Wayfarer Studios, its CEO and monetary backer, and publicists Nathan and Abel.
Baldoni has denied the allegations and beforehand filed a lawsuit looking for lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in damages towards The New York Occasions over its reporting on the dispute.
He later expanded that go well with to incorporate Vigorous, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane, although the case was dismissed in June.
Blake Vigorous And Justin Baldoni Ordered To Attend In-Particular person Settlement Convention
In the meantime, Vigorous and Baldoni, together with their authorized groups, are scheduled to attend a settlement convention on Wednesday, February 11, in an effort to resolve the dispute associated to “It Ends With Us.”
The assembly was ordered on December 18 by U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Sarah L. Cave and can happen on the U.S. District Court docket for the Southern District of New York.
The order emphasizes that “the presence of every social gathering (the consumer), along with counsel, is crucial to the settlement course of.”
Authorized analyst Gregory Doll, a Los Angeles-based associate at Amir Doll and Eley who shouldn’t be concerned within the case, advised Folks that events are nearly all the time required to be current.
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“Nearly 100% of the time, the events are required to personally attend the settlement convention,” he defined. “Not often are they excused and infrequently allowed to seem by telephone. The Justice of the Peace choose needs them there for optimum power and impact.”
Choose Units Settlement Timeline And Outlines Subsequent Steps In Vigorous-Baldoni Case
In line with the court docket order, Choose Cave additionally instructed Vigorous’s authorized group to submit a proper settlement proposal to Baldoni by January 28, along with his response due by February 4.
The doc additional outlines how the convention will proceed. All sides’s attorneys are anticipated to ship transient displays, lasting roughly 10 to fifteen minutes in entrance of the opposing social gathering and the court docket, highlighting the important thing points they imagine ought to be thought-about when discussing settlement.
Afterward, attorneys might reply to 1 one other and permit their shoppers to talk in the event that they select. Following the joint session, the choose will meet privately with either side.
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Throughout these conferences, each events should be ready to reveal the authorized charges and bills incurred to date, in addition to projected prices required to take the case by way of trial and any potential appeals.
