Blake Lively has suffered a significant legal blow in her defamation lawsuit against It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
The latest court ruling denied Lively access to Baldoni’s phone records, with the judge labeling her request an invasion of privacy.
Judge Blocks Lively’s Request for Phone Records
Lively had sought two years’ worth of Baldoni’s call logs, text messages, data logs, and cell site location information as part of her legal battle against him.
However, a New York court ruled against her, deeming the request overly broad and an invasion of privacy.
Federal Judge Lewis Liman expressed concerns that the requested records could contain irrelevant information,
including personal communications with third parties and sensitive data involving Baldoni’s medical and psychological consultations.
While Lively’s discovery request was denied in its current form, the judge did not entirely dismiss her subpoenas. Instead, he instructed her to revise them to narrow their scope. Additionally, Baldoni’s legal team attempted to block Lively from seeking similar information from third parties, but the judge rejected that motion, allowing her to continue pursuing evidence through external sources.
The Origins of the Legal Battle
The dispute between Lively and Baldoni stems from allegations the actress made against the director and his production company, Wayfarer Studios. In her lawsuit, filed in December, Lively accused Baldoni and other members of his team of harassment and inappropriate behavior during the filming of It Ends With Us.
Her complaint included claims of sexual misconduct, such as unauthorized entry into her private trailer and unprofessional conduct on set. The lawsuit named several individuals associated with Baldoni, including Wayfarer Studios’ CEO, financial backers, and PR representatives Nathan and Jennifer Abel.
Lively took her fight public, telling The New York Times, “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
The allegations gained significant media attention and led to Baldoni being dropped by his talent agency.
Baldoni Fights Back with Countersuit
In response, Baldoni fired back with a countersuit, accusing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of defamation. He alleged that Lively misrepresented the context of his messages and worked alongside Hollywood publicist Leslie Sloane to spread damaging stories about him in the media.
Baldoni is seeking substantial financial compensation, claiming that Lively’s accusations have severely impacted his career. He asserts that she manipulated their communications to falsely portray him in a negative light.
Lively Faces Mounting Legal and Career Challenges
As the lawsuit unfolds, Lively is reportedly facing mounting legal expenses and potential fallout in her career. The public scrutiny surrounding the case has only intensified, with Baldoni maintaining that he has been wrongfully accused.
Despite the recent setback, Lively remains steadfast in her claims, arguing that her legal battle is about exposing mistreatment in the entertainment industry. However, with the court ruling against her discovery request, she now faces additional challenges in proving her case.
The legal battle between these former co-stars shows no signs of slowing down, with both sides continuing to fight for their reputations. Whether Lively will revise her subpoenas and continue pursuing Baldoni’s records remains to be seen, but this latest ruling is a significant obstacle in her quest for evidence.
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