Latest news with #WayfarerParties
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift Excluded From Baldoni-Lively Narrative, as Subpoena Is Withdrawn
Justin Baldoni's lawyers have withdrawn a subpoena sent to Taylor Swift and her legal team, after the firm objected that it amounted to an 'unwarranted fishing expedition.' Attorneys for Swift and Blake Lively — who are friends — had filed motions to quash the subpoena, which sought communications between their respective legal teams. More from Variety Taylor Swift's 'Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor's Version)' Soundtracks New 'Handmaid's Tale' Episode Trump Claims Taylor Swift Is 'No Longer Hot' After He Posted 'I Hate Taylor Swift!' Blake Lively's Lawyers Fight Back Against Taylor Swift Blackmail Accusation: 'Unequivocally and Demonstrably False' Baldoni is suing Lively, his 'It Ends With Us' co-star, and her husband Ryan Reynolds, alleging that they tried destroy his career with false allegations of sexual harassment. Lively has sued Baldoni and a cast of publicists on the grounds that they launched an online whisper campaign against her in retaliation for her harassment complaints. In a statement on Thursday, Lively's spokesperson said that Baldoni had sought to exploit Swift's celebrity to distract from the real issues in the case. 'We are pleased that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties have withdrawn their harassing subpoenas to Taylor Swift and her law firm,' the spokesperson said. '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.' Swift was referenced in Baldoni's lawsuit as a 'megacelebrity friend' of Lively's, who came to her defense in a creative conflict. Baldoni was both the director and co-star of the film. According to his allegations, he felt pressured by Swift and Reynolds — whom Lively called her 'dragons' — to accede to Lively's script changes. The subpoenas to Swift and her law firm — filed on May 8 and April 28, respectively — do not appear to be connected to that particular claim. According to a court filing from Bryan Freedman, Baldoni's lead attorney, he was instead looking for evidence that Lively's lawyer had threatened to release texts between Lively and Swift unless Swift issued a statement of support for Lively. Freedman alleged that he received a voicemail on Feb. 14 from 'a person very closely linked to Taylor Swift.' In a subsequent conversation, this person, whom Freedman declined to identify, claimed that Lively's lawyer had demanded that Swift post a social media statement in support of Lively, and warned that he could release 10 years of texts between the two stars. According to Freedman's version of events, Swift's lawyer then accused Lively's lawyer of extortion and ended the call. The person also claimed that Lively had urged Swift to delete their text messages several months earlier, according to Freedman. Freedman also claimed that Swift's lawyer had memorialized the allegedly extortionate conversation in a letter to Lively's lawyer, which he was seeking to obtain through the subpoena. Lively's lawyers called Freedman's allegations 'unequivocally and demonstrably false,' and argued that the sole purpose of the court filing was to publicize scandalous claims through a means by which they would be shielded from defamation liability. Attorneys for both Swift and Lively also argued that the allegations were irrelevant to the claims and defenses actually at issue in the case. In the court filing, Freedman indicated that the motions to quash would likely become moot, as negotiations were underway with Swift's law firm, Venable LLP. Purportedly, those negotiations have resulted in information being provided voluntarily, obviating the need for the subpoenas. 'The Baldoni and Wayfarer team have tried to put Taylor Swift, a woman who has been an inspiration for tens of millions across the globe, at the center of this case since day one,' Lively's spokesperson said. 'Faced with having to justify themselves in federal court, they folded. At some point they will run out of distractions from the actual claims of sexual harassment and retaliation they are facing.' A spokesperson for Swift previously dismissed the subpoena as a bid for 'tabloid clickbait.' 'Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see 'It Ends With Us' until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history,' the spokesperson said. Judge Lewis Liman previously granted Lively's motion to strike Freedman's allegations from the court record. The judge also threatened to sanction Freedman in the event of further missteps. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blake Lively Abandons Claims Against Justin Baldoni of Infliction of Emotional Distress
Blake Lively is attempting to withdraw her claims against Justin Baldoni of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The move comes after Baldoni's legal team sought discovery that included her medical records in their efforts to defend the 'It Ends With Us' director against her claim that she suffered 'severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, embarrassment, belittlement, frustration and mental anguish.' Lively's attempt to withdraw the two claims surfaced in a filing Monday by Baldoni's attorneys, who are seeking to compel the actress to sign a HIPAA release for access to therapy notes and other relevant information. 'Instead of complying with the Medical RFPs, Ms. Lively's counsel recently advised us, in writing, that Ms. Lively is withdrawing her [infliction of emotional distress] Claims,' today's filing states. 'However, Ms. Lively has refused the Wayfarer Parties' reasonable request that the withdrawal of such claims be with prejudice. She is only willing to withdraw her claims without prejudice. In other words, Ms. Lively wants to simultaneously: (a) refuse to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress and/or that the Wayfarer Parties were the cause; and (b) maintain the right to re-file her IED Claims at an unknown time in this or some other court after the discovery window has closed.' More from Variety Taylor Swift Excluded From Baldoni-Lively Narrative, as Subpoena Is Withdrawn Blake Lively's Lawyers Fight Back Against Taylor Swift Blackmail Accusation: 'Unequivocally and Demonstrably False' Taylor Swift Subpoenaed by Justin Baldoni's Attorney in Blake Lively Suit The court will now need to decide whether to compel Lively to turn over the information on her mental health, which she has sought to avoid, or dismiss the two claims with or without prejudice. It is standard procedure in cases alleging physical or emotional injury for the defense to access the plaintiff's medical records that would shine a light on the root and scope of alleged distress. What is unusual is for a plaintiff to abandon the claims midstream given that it is well known heading into such a lawsuit that medical records will be an unpleasant but inevitable part of the discovery process. The filing, addressed to Judge Liman in U.S. District Court Southern District of New York and signed by Baldoni attorney Kevin Fritz, offers a window on a back and forth that appears to have played out between lawyers for the dueling sides. It continues: 'Ms. Lively cannot have it both ways. If Ms. Lively wants to withdraw her frivolous IED Claims, the Wayfarer Parties are entitled to a dismissal with prejudice to ensure they will not be re-filed. If Ms. Lively is unwilling to stipulate to the dismissal of her IED Claims with prejudice, then the Wayfarer Parties will continue to defend against them, and she must produce her medical information and documents as set forth herein.' The two emotional distress claims were key components of Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni, which she filed in federal court in December after he sued the New York Times for defamation over its story about what happened on the set and in the run-up to the release of the 2024 domestic violence drama, which became a box-office hit, earning $351 million at the box office worldwide off of a $25 million budget. Lively claims she was sexually harassed by Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath and subjected to a smear campaign by his proxies when she complained. Baldoni, who is suing Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for $400 million, claims the 'It Ends With Us' star tried to extort him and subsequently defamed him. 'By alleging that she suffered physical and emotional injuries, Ms. Lively has placed her physical and mental condition at issue and, in turn, must produce relevant information and documents [including] psychiatric records,' today's filing states. 'In other words, Ms. Lively has waived any doctor-patient privilege.' The twists and turns in the saga, which now includes six related lawsuits, have hit the docket quickly. Baldoni is also suing and being sued by his former publicist Stephanie Jones who he claims leaked text messages that sparked the ordeal. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blake Lively Abandons Claims Against Justin Baldoni of Infliction of Emotional Distress
Blake Lively is attempting to withdraw her claims against Justin Baldoni of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The move comes after Baldoni's legal team sought discovery that included her medical records in their efforts to defend the 'It Ends With Us' director against her claim that she suffered 'severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, embarrassment, belittlement, frustration and mental anguish.' Lively's attempt to withdraw the two claims surfaced in a filing Monday by Baldoni's attorneys, who are seeking to compel the actress to sign a HIPAA release for access to therapy notes and other relevant information. 'Instead of complying with the Medical RFPs, Ms. Lively's counsel recently advised us, in writing, that Ms. Lively is withdrawing her [infliction of emotional distress] Claims,' today's filing states. 'However, Ms. Lively has refused the Wayfarer Parties' reasonable request that the withdrawal of such claims be with prejudice. She is only willing to withdraw her claims without prejudice. In other words, Ms. Lively wants to simultaneously: (a) refuse to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress and/or that the Wayfarer Parties were the cause; and (b) maintain the right to re-file her IED Claims at an unknown time in this or some other court after the discovery window has closed.' More from Variety Taylor Swift Excluded From Baldoni-Lively Narrative, as Subpoena Is Withdrawn Blake Lively's Lawyers Fight Back Against Taylor Swift Blackmail Accusation: 'Unequivocally and Demonstrably False' Taylor Swift Subpoenaed by Justin Baldoni's Attorney in Blake Lively Suit The court will now need to decide whether to compel Lively to turn over the information on her mental health, which she has sought to avoid, or dismiss the two claims with or without prejudice. It is standard procedure in cases alleging physical or emotional injury for the defense to access the plaintiff's medical records that would shine a light on the root and scope of alleged distress. What is unusual is for a plaintiff to abandon the claims midstream given that it is well known heading into such a lawsuit that medical records will be an unpleasant but inevitable part of the discovery process. The filing, addressed to Judge Liman in U.S. District Court Southern District of New York and signed by Baldoni attorney Kevin Fritz, offers a window on a back and forth that appears to have played out between lawyers for the dueling sides. It continues: 'Ms. Lively cannot have it both ways. If Ms. Lively wants to withdraw her frivolous IED Claims, the Wayfarer Parties are entitled to a dismissal with prejudice to ensure they will not be re-filed. If Ms. Lively is unwilling to stipulate to the dismissal of her IED Claims with prejudice, then the Wayfarer Parties will continue to defend against them, and she must produce her medical information and documents as set forth herein.' The two emotional distress claims were key components of Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni, which she filed in federal court in December after he sued the New York Times for defamation over its story about what happened on the set and in the run-up to the release of the 2024 domestic violence drama, which became a box-office hit, earning $351 million at the box office worldwide off of a $25 million budget. Lively claims she was sexually harassed by Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath and subjected to a smear campaign by his proxies when she complained. Baldoni, who is suing Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for $400 million, claims the 'It Ends With Us' star tried to extort him and subsequently defamed him. 'By alleging that she suffered physical and emotional injuries, Ms. Lively has placed her physical and mental condition at issue and, in turn, must produce relevant information and documents [including] psychiatric records,' today's filing states. 'In other words, Ms. Lively has waived any doctor-patient privilege.' The twists and turns in the saga, which now includes six related lawsuits, have hit the docket quickly. Baldoni is also suing and being sued by his former publicist Stephanie Jones who he claims leaked text messages that sparked the ordeal. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Did Blake Lively Drop Her Lawsuit?' Trends Amid Justin Baldoni Case Update
Blake Lively recently dropped claims of emotional distress against Justin Baldoni in a new legal filing. However, many fans may have been confused by this news and have been wondering if the former dropped her ongoing lawsuit against the latter. Lively and Baldoni's legal saga kicked off in December 2024. This was after the former filed a lawsuit accusing the latter of sexual harassment. Since then, the case, which has garnered widespread attention, has faced numerous developments. So, did Blake Lively drop her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni? Here's what we know. No, Blake Lively has not dropped her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni. However, she has dropped her claims of emotional distress against the latter, as per new legal filings. Lively requested to withdraw her claims of intentional emotional distress and negligent emotional distress on June 2, 2025. She filed them at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The actress' filing occurred after Baldoni's legal team tried to gain access to medical records in their efforts to defend their client from Lively's claim that she suffered 'severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, embarrassment, belittlement, frustration, and mental anguish.' In a Monday filing, it was revealed that Baldoni's attorneys sought to compel the A Simple Favor actress to sign a HIPAA release. This was so that the former could access Lively's therapy notes and other relevant information. However, the filing revealed that instead of complying with the medical FRPs, Lively's legal team advised Baldoni's legal team that the actress was dropping her claims of emotional distress. It also revealed that she was refusing the Wayfarer Parties' request to withdraw the claims with prejudice. Thus, Lively wanted to: Refused to disclose information and documents required to disprove her claims of suffering emotional distress, and that the Wayfarer Parties were guilty. Maintain the right to re-file her IED claims at a later date. The filing from Baldoni's attorneys was called 'a press stunt' by Lively's lawyers Mike Gottlieb and Ersa Hudson. Hudson and Gottlieb noted that they were only 'streamlining and focusing' her case (via Variety). Moreover, in a statement to People, Hudson and Gottlieb claimed that Baldoni's team was trying to get 'another tired round of tabloid coverage.' Originally reported by Abdul Azim Naushad on ComingSoon. The post 'Did Blake Lively Drop Her Lawsuit?' Trends Amid Justin Baldoni Case Update appeared first on Mandatory.
Pink Villa
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Blake Lively Trying to Escape Through Medical Records? Actress' Team Reacts to Justin Baldoni's New Claims
Justin Baldoni's attorneys are called out by Blake Lively's lawyers over the claims that the actress is trying to hide her medical records. Amid the ongoing legal battle between the It Ends With Us co-stars, the filmmaker's lawyers went on to state that the movie star tried to withdraw her lawsuit against Baldoni due to 'intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.' According to new media reports, it was stated that Justin 's attorneys attempted to get the actress to sign a HIPAA document, which would grant officials access to the mother of four's therapy notes and other medical records. The lawyers needed the documents to retrieve evidence against her in defense of the actor-director, and claimed that to stop them from doing so, the Green Lantern actress tried to withdraw her case. In the new progress, Lively's lawyers fired back at Baldoni's attorneys, claiming their statements to be 'misleading.' Blake Lively's lawyer's letter to the judge In response to Justin Baldoni 's team's claims, the actress' lawyers penned a letter to the judge seeking to fight against the new filing. The documents read, 'As the Wayfarer Parties make abundantly clear in their Motion, Ms. Lively voluntarily agreed to withdraw her infliction of emotional distress claims on Friday, May 30. Ms. Lively did so in good faith to streamline the dispute in the ordinary litigation process, given the damages she otherwise anticipates recovering.' They further added, 'Counsel for the Wayfarer Parties concede and are aware that this renders their discovery moot. Motion at 3. But they also have been desperately searching for an angle to make a show out of Ms. Lively's decision to streamline her case.' The lawsuit by Blake Lively was first filed in December, six months after the release of their movie It Ends With Us. Justin Baldoni went on to file a countercase against the actress and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, on the grounds of extortion and defamation.
