Latest news with #NewYorkRulesofProfessionalConduct
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Justin Baldoni's attorney accused of LEAKING Blake Lively's deposition details to press; actress' lawyers seek sanctions, transcripts stricken off from record
The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is heating up with the actress' attorneys accusing the director's legal team of 'leaking' information. Lively's legal team on Monday, filed a motion seeking sanctions against Baldoni's lead counsel, Bryan Freedman, for allegedly violating court orders and engaging in what they described as a 'pre-trial press tour' intended to undermine the actress's character. The motion, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, accuses Freedman of repeatedly making inflammatory public statements in violation of a February order that required both parties to comply with the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, and prohibited them from attacking the other's character with the intent to influence legal proceedings. Lively's Team Files A Motion According to the motion, as reported by Deadline and Varitey, Freedman "almost immediately" violated the court's directive by launching 'biased and inflammatory pre-trial indictments of Ms. Lively's character, credibility and reputation' across various media platforms. The filing cites several interviews Freedman gave to outlets including TMZ, People, and The Megyn Kelly Show, in which he suggested, among other things, that Lively was 'afraid of the truth'. Lively Trying to Seal Records? Lively's deposition was conducted privately last Thursday, with only legal representatives and a court reporter present. However, the following day, Baldoni's team filed a motion in an unrelated discovery dispute and attached a sealed copy of Lively's 292-page deposition transcript as an exhibit. Though the transcript remains sealed, Lively's lawyers argued that the move was a 'deliberate attempt' to force the deposition into the public domain. They also claimed that it was a move to compel Lively's team to request that the documents remain sealed', creating a doubt about her intentions to 'hide' information. Planting A False Narrative 'The Wayfarer Defendants and their counsel hope to make Ms. Lively defend the continued sealing of the transcript so they can advance a false narrative that Ms. Lively is afraid of her deposition testimony becoming public, which is entirely untrue and deeply harmful,' the motion states. Lively's attorneys are requesting that the deposition transcript be "stricken from the court record" and that sanctions be imposed on Freedman for conduct they describe as a 'public relations stunt'. About The Lawsuit Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his publicists, and Wayfarer Studios over alleged sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of the film It Ends With Us. Meanwhile, Baldoni has denied all allegations, and filed countersuits to the tune of $400 million, which were dismissed earlier this year. Baldoni and Lively are scheduled for a courtroom showdown when their trial begins in March 2026.
Fox News
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Justin Baldoni surfs in Hawaii as Blake Lively legal battle rages on
Justin Baldoni has escaped to paradise as his legal battle with Blake Lively rages on. The 41-year-old actor - who was accused of sexual harassment, retaliation and infliction of emotional distress in a December lawsuit filed by Lively - was seen surfing in Hawaii this week. In a photograph obtained by Fox News Digital, Baldoni seemed relaxed and in good spirits as he casually rode the waves. The vacation comes nearly two months after Lively filed her lawsuit on December 31. Though the actor seems unbothered, sources close to the director told Fox News Digital that Lively's claims have since cost him three jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars. "Justin Baldoni's career is going to nosedive because of this legal battle," Ryan McCormick, a Reputation Management Expert & Managing Partner at Goldman McCormick PR, told Fox News Digital. "It's not because of his acting ability or following," he continued. "Even if all accusations are proven false, I think in the eyes of studios, he's radioactive. Entertainment companies take a risk on each film, not knowing if it will connect with the masses. With Baldoni, there's now added perils of not knowing if another legal battle will manifest with his future co-stars." "In addition, the actor has run awry with one of Hollywood's most powerful couples," he added. "Their sphere of influence goes far beyond what the public sees. I can see Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds subtly letting film studios know that they will not do business with them if they do business with Baldoni." "Also, Lively has 44M followers on Instagram and [Ryan] Reynolds (Lively's husband) has 53 million. Baldoni has 4 million. For all the negative press Lively has gotten in the past year, she can recover from this legal hurricane. Baldoni's brand and marketability have unfortunately been fatally compromised," he concluded. In December, Lively detailed allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional affliction of emotional distress, negligence and more against Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath in a complaint first filed with the California Civil Rights department and later in federal court in December. In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion and defamation. His team then released unedited footage from the set of "It Ends With Us" that they claim refutes Lively's previous accusations of sexual harassment. However, Lively's legal team claims the footage bolsters the actress's allegations. After the release, Lively's legal team demanded a gag order be issued against Baldoni's lawyer. WATCH: JUSTIN BALDONI RELEASES UNEDITED 'IT ENDS WITH US' FOOTAGE FEATURING BLAKE LIVELY On Jan. 23, Baldoni's lawyers filed a response, calling Lively's gag order attempt an "intimidation tactic" and "tactical gamesmanship." Baldoni and Lively's legal teams were in federal court on Feb. 3 where the judge ordered that they follow the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, which limit speaking to the press. Neither party will be permitted to make statements to the press that have a "substantial likelihood" of prejudicing a jury. However, the legal teams will be allowed to defend their client in the media against publicity not created by either side.
Fox News
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Blake Lively skewered on social media for promoting new movie amid Justin Baldoni legal drama
Amid her nasty legal battle with Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively is catching heat for promoting her upcoming film with Anna Kendrick. On Tuesday, the 37-year-old actress who sued her "It Ends With Us" co-star for sexual harassment, retaliation and emotional distress in December was tagged in a social media post promoting her new project, "Another Simple Favor," that prompted fans to share a mix of reactions. "Has no one told her she's canceled," one user commented on the Prime Video Instagram post, which also tagged Lively, Kendrick, director Paul Feig, Amazon MGM Studios and the film's official Instagram page. "Weird timing to promote this movie," another wrote. "I'll never watch anything with Blake Lively ever again," one fan chimed in. "Girl we are not supporting you anymore PACK IT UP," another person wrote. While some criticized Lively, others came to the star's defense. "Team Blake," one fan wrote. "Was never really into this series but I'll be watching to support Blake," another wrote. Representatives for Lively did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The new film promotion comes over a month after Lively detailed allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional affliction of emotional distress, negligence and more against Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath in a complaint first filed with the California Civil Rights department and later in federal court in December. In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion and defamation. Since then, the public feud has only escalated. Baldoni's team released unedited footage from the set of "It Ends With Us" that it claims refutes Lively's previous accusations of sexual harassment. After the release, Lively's legal team demanded a gag order be issued against Baldoni's lawyer. On Jan. 23, Baldoni's lawyers filed a response, calling Lively's gag order attempt an "intimidation tactic" and "tactical gamesmanship." WATCH: JUSTIN BALDONI RELEASES UNEDITED 'IT ENDS WITH US' FOOTAGE FEATURING BLAKE LIVELY Baldoni and Lively's legal teams were in federal court Monday, where the judge ordered that they follow the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, which limit speaking to the press. Neither party will be permitted to make statements to the press that have a "substantial likelihood" of prejudicing a jury. However, the legal teams will be allowed to defend their client in the media against publicity not created by either side.
