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Time of India
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Taylor Swift's ex-lawyer joins Justin Baldoni amid legal war, fueling Blake Lively rift and fan frenzy
Things just took a dramatic turn in the legal battle between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. Once again, Taylor Swift 's name is back in the mix. Officially joining Baldoni's team, a former attorney connected to the pop star has fueled even more speculations. This situation has added pressure to an already strained celebrity fallout. Justin Baldoni has brought on Ellyn Garofalo, former legal counsel for Taylor Swift, to his legal team. Who is Ellyn S. Garofalo? Ellyn S. Garofalo is currently a member of Baldoni's Wayfarer counsel after serving from 2018 to 2021 at Venable LLP, Swift's previous legal firm. Why did Justin Baldoni bring in Swift's ex-lawyer? He has brought Swift's ex-lawyer as her involvement in the case might be over 30 years of experience in the courtroom, Garofalo is a seasoned trial lawyer who has handled high-profile cases involving celebrities like Alyssa Milano and Anna Nicole Smith, as quoted in a report by The Blast. She is a Pepperdine Law School graduate with a focus on civil, criminal, and regulatory law, including SEC enforcement actions. Live Events Garofalo felt strongly that an injustice was occurring and that her involvement could make a meaningful difference, so she was forced to join the case after reviewing its circumstances, a source told the Daily Mail. ALSO READ: Eid al-Adha 2025: Is it a holiday in the U.S.? Are banks open? All the details you need How does Justin Bladoni's team feel about Swift's ex-lawyer? Baldoni's team is thrilled because of her track record in the courtroom. She not only provides outstanding legal knowledge, but she also satisfies their wish to have a well-known female litigator, stated an insider, as per a report by the Daily Mail. Did Taylor Swift really cut off Blake Lively? The latest event coincides with rumoured tensions between Swift and Lively, whose friendship is still suffering as a result of the latter's legal dispute with Baldoni. Although Swift remains publicly silent, insiders suggest that her friendship with Lively may not recover. What's the latest on the subpoena drama? Swift was subpoenaed by Baldoni's team in early May on the grounds that Lively attempted to "coerce" her into deleting their text messages and making a public statement in support of her. In response, Lively's lawyers argued that the allegations were "baseless, unnecessary, improper, and abusive." Her request to have the subpoena letter dismissed was granted by this court. Swift's team later referred to the subpoena as "tabloid clickbait." The subpoena was withdrawn by Baldoni's team in late May after Venable referred to it as a "unwarranted fishing expedition." According to reports, the 35-year-old pop sensation is "extremely relieved" that Baldoni's legal team's subpoena was withdrawn on May 22. The emotional harm, however, seems to have taken a toll on her. FAQs Did Taylor Swift take a side in the Baldoni vs. Lively legal drama? She hasn't said anything publicly, but her actions behind the scenes suggest that her loyalties have quietly shifted. Why is Taylor Swift's former lawyer involved? Ellyn Garofalo, who previously represented Swift, joined Baldoni's legal team after reviewing the case and concluding there was an injustice.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Drama As A Taylor Swift Ally Joins Justin Baldoni's Team Amid Legal Tussle With Blake Lively
The legal showdown between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has taken a dramatic turn. A heavyweight litigator with ties to Taylor Swift has joined Baldoni's camp, sparking new controversy and questions about Swift's silent role in the feud. The recent development comes amid reported tensions between Swift and Lively as their friendship continues to suffer amid the latter's legal battle with Baldoni. Baldoni, 41, has recruited powerhouse attorney Ellyn S. Garofalo to his legal team in his escalating conflict with "It Ends With Us" co-star Lively, 37. Garofalo, who worked at Venable LLP, Swift's former legal representatives, from 2018 to 2021, is now part of Baldoni's Wayfarer counsel. Her entry into the case could prove decisive. A seasoned trial lawyer with over 30 years of courtroom experience, Garofalo has handled high-stakes cases involving stars like Anna Nicole Smith and Alyssa Milano. She specializes in civil, criminal, and regulatory law, including SEC enforcement actions, and is a graduate of Pepperdine Law School. 'Garofalo was compelled to join the case after reviewing its circumstances, feeling strongly that an injustice was unfolding and that her participation could make a meaningful difference,' a source told the Daily Mail. 'Baldoni's team is thrilled because of her track record in the courtroom,' the insider added. 'She not only brings exceptional legal expertise but also fulfils their desire to include a prominent female litigator.' The pop icon was pulled into the chaos in early May when Baldoni's team subpoenaed her as a witness. According to a legal filing, Lively allegedly tried to 'coerce' Swift into releasing a public statement supporting her and 'urged her to delete text messages between them.' Lively's lawyers fought back hard, calling the claims 'baseless, unnecessary, improper and abusive.' The court agreed, granting her motion to dismiss the subpoena letter. Swift's camp later slammed the subpoena as nothing more than 'tabloid clickbait.' Ultimately, Baldoni's team withdrew the subpoena in late May after Venable objected, saying the action amounted to an 'unwarranted fishing expedition.' New twists followed quickly. Days after the subpoena was dropped, an unnamed insider from Swift's inner circle allegedly provided incriminating documentation to Baldoni's lead attorney, Bryan Freedman. This evidence reportedly revealed that Lively's team had 'threatened to leak' private exchanges between the actress and Swift to pressure the singer into siding with her publicly. In a shocking reveal, sources claimed the leaker was none other than Taylor Swift's 73-year-old father, Scott Swift. While Swift has not made any public comment on the matter, the surrounding drama has fueled intense speculation about her loyalties and silence amid the celebrity crossfire. Although Taylor Swift is no longer legally tied to the feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, sources say her friendship with Lively didn't survive the fallout. The 35-year-old pop superstar reportedly feels 'an immense sense of relief' after the subpoena issued by Baldoni's legal team was dropped on May 22. Still, the emotional damage appears to be lasting. 'There's been radio silence between Taylor and Blake since the subpoena was dropped,' a source told Us Weekly, adding that their previously close friendship has 'stalled' due to 'legal tension.' According to the insider, things are unlikely to return to how they were: 'They won't pick up where they left off.' As her friendship with Lively reportedly dissolves, Taylor Swift is quietly deepening her connection with other longtime friends, most notably Dakota Johnson. The two were spotted dining at Via Carota in New York City, accompanied by their brothers Austin Swift and Jesse Johnson. Fans will recall Johnson once calling Swift 'the most powerful person in America' during her "Saturday Night Live monologue." Their recent outing appears to signal Swift's preference for more low-key, drama-free relationships. The ripple effects are extending through Swift's inner circle. Cara Delevingne, formerly close to both Lively and Swift, has reportedly taken Swift's side. 'Cara does not like to be involved in any drama, and she is very supportive of her friends,' a source said to the Daily Mail. 'She considers Taylor to be one of her closest friends and she does not approve of the way that the events of the past several months have unfolded.' Sophie Turner and Gigi Hadid, two other core members of Swift's squad, have also distanced themselves from Lively. Hadid, once publicly affectionate toward Lively, no longer appears connected to the actress. Sources also believe Swift skipped the 2025 American Music Awards to avoid media questions. 'She avoided the AMAs because she didn't want to deal with 1000s of questions about the Blake Lively saga,' a source revealed. 'It is all anyone wants to talk about, and Taylor is really tired of it.'
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift Mentioned Again in Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni Drama
Taylor Swift's name has come up once again as the legal feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni intensifies. Now, many are curious about what happened and why Swift is once again involved in the legal battle between the It Ends With Us stars. Check out why Taylor Swift was roped into Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's lawsuit right here. Taylor Swift's name has unexpectedly surfaced yet again in the ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. The Grammy winner was reportedly subpoenaed in early May. Baldoni's legal team claimed that Lively had tried to pressure Swift into making a public statement in her favor. The same filing also alleged that Lively urged Swift to delete private text messages exchanged between them. Lively's attorneys swiftly filed a motion to have those claims removed from the legal record, labeling them 'improper' and 'unnecessary.' The court agreed and granted the motion. Shortly after, Baldoni's team withdrew the subpoena, following objections from Swift's law firm, Venable LLP, which called the move an 'unwarranted fishing expedition' and 'tabloid clickbait.' Amid the legal back-and-forth, Ellyn S. Garofalo, a former attorney at Venable LLP with over 30 years of courtroom experience, joined Justin Baldoni's legal counsel. Garofalo's past association with Taylor Swift's legal counsel quickly sparked speculation among fans. According to reports, Garofalo joined the defense after Venable helped get the subpoena against Swift dismissed. Moreover, as per a Daily Mail insider, 'For Ellyn to join the counsel is huge. Baldoni's team is thrilled because of her track record in the courtroom.' They further added, 'She not only brings exceptional legal expertise but also fulfils their desire to include a prominent female litigator.' Additionally, as per previous reports, someone close to Taylor Swift had passed evidence to Justin Baldoni's lead attorney suggesting that Blake Lively's lawyers had threatened to expose her messages with Swift. Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon. The post Taylor Swift Mentioned Again in Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni Drama appeared first on Mandatory.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Justin Baldoni's legal team revokes document subpoena issued for Taylor Swift
Justin Baldoni's legal team revokes document subpoena issued for Taylor Swift Show Caption Hide Caption Blake Lively's team slams Baldoni's over Taylor Swift subpoena Blake Lively's team has condemned Justin Baldoni's team's decision to subpoena Taylor Swift, calling it a blatant attempt to exploit Lively's friendship for tabloid attention. unbranded - Entertainment Justin Baldoni's legal team withdrew its subpoena against Taylor Swift. The subpoena was related to the film "It Ends With Us," which used Swift's song "My Tears Ricochet." The trial between Baldoni and Lively is scheduled for March 9, 2026. Justin Baldoni's legal team withdrew the document subpoena for Taylor Swift less than two weeks after serving the singer. "We are pleased that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties have withdrawn their harassing subpoenas to Taylor Swift and her law firm," a spokesperson for Blake Lively said in a statement. "We supported the efforts of Taylor's team to quash these inappropriate subpoenas directed to her counsel and we will continue to stand up for any third party who is unjustly harassed or threatened in the process." The USA TODAY Network reached out to Baldoni's attorney and Swift's team for comment and have not received responses. Swift's song "My Tears Ricochet" was used in the movie "It Ends With Us," where the issues between Lively and Baldoni began. The book-to-screen adaptation has been shrouded in controversy since the movie press tour kicked off the summer of 2024. The blockbuster led to serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation by Lively and lawsuit filings by Baldoni of defamation and extortion. On May 9, Swift's spokesperson blasted Baldoni's legal team saying Swift didn't watch the movie until weeks after the release given she was headlining the Eras Tour across Europe. "Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film," Swift's representative said, "which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift's name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case." Baldoni's attorneys filed a notice of intent in late April to subpoena Venable LLP, Swift's law firm overseeing hundreds of her trademarks. The same firm represented Swift during her 2015 sexual assault lawsuit against radio DJ David Mueller. On May 14, Baldoni's attorneys refused to back down on their request for the subpoena in a letter to Judge Lewis Liman, who is presiding over the case. Bryan Freedman, the lawyer leading Baldoni's attorneys, argued the documents would demonstrate "witness tampering" between Lively, Swift and Swift's legal team. Lively's attorney called the letter "categorically false." On May 15, Judge Liman granted a motion to strike down the letter, adding to Baldoni's team, "Counsel is advised that future misuse of the Court's docket may be met with sanctions." The trial is set for March 9, 2026, in Liman's courtroom in New York City. Contributing: Edward Segarra. Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the free, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat. Follow Bryan West, the USA TODAY Network's Taylor Swift reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arlington residents raise concerns over Green Valley redevelopment project
ARLINGTON, Va. () — Arlington residents are raising concerns about a major redevelopment project they say could push Black families out of a historically-Black neighborhood. The Green Valley redevelopment project aims to turn two hotels on South Glebe Road into residential units, creating 531 residential units and townhouses. But, some Black residents in the area say most of the units would be unaffordable. US Senators from Maryland, Virginia demand return of Maryland man mistakenly deported 'The number of affordable units to this project is … a pittance,' said Arlington resident Frederick Craddock. 'It's really embarrassing when you look at it.' Renderings show the Green Valley redevelopment project would bring 494 units, 37 townhouses and 549 parking spaces to 2480 South Glebe Road. The developers plan to make only nine of the units affordable. 'The expected income needed to purchase here, which I referenced before, is about $119,000,' said Anne Bodine with Arlingtonians for a Sustainable Future. 'And this shows you that [the] average African-American income in Arlington and the average Hispanic household income do not meet the need of requirements to qualify.' Residents are also concerned that the proposed nine-story complex would impact traffic and overshadow the historic right next door. 'By allowing the developer to say, well, 'we'll have this level of affordable housing. We'll make a $2 million contribution to the affordable housing fund. And also we'll provide some other things like public art, some open space,'' said Rev. Adrian Nelson II with the church. 'Those are all things that are considered to be a community benefit, but they're not really a major benefit to those who live in this community.' The Arlington County Board released a statement saying, in part, 'The Board heard from dozens of members of our community … the Board decided to defer to the upcoming Wednesday Board meeting to provide more time to deliberate and discuss.' Venable LLP, which represents the developers of the project, also released a statement saying: We have been working hard to further a compatible design with the project architect Hord Coplan Macht. Having started the dialogue with major local stakeholders back in November 2023, we are committed to continuing to work closely with all community members to deliver a viable project that provides significant benefits to the local area. The developers all share a commitment to delivering extraordinary properties, and will continue to meet or exceed Arlington County's requirements for the redevelopment of the 5.5 acres. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
