The ongoing legal dispute between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continues to unfold, with both parties agreeing that settlement discussions are premature at this stage. According to a joint letter submitted to Judge Lewis Liman and obtained by Fox News Digital, the legal representatives for both Lively and Baldoni stated that "settlement discussions would be premature." The letter also indicated that mediation and the established Discovery Protocols are not suitable for this particular case. Judge Liman concurred with this assessment and issued the corresponding order.
This legal wrangling began in December when Lively filed a complaint, initially with the California Civil Rights department and subsequently in federal court, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence against Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath. Baldoni responded with his own lawsuit in January, claiming Lively's accusations were "false" and an attempt to salvage her reputation following controversy surrounding the press tour for their film, "It Ends With Us." He contends that Lively seized control of the film's publicity and then fabricated allegations to deflect negative attention. Both Lively and Baldoni have denied the allegations leveled against them.
Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, have been given until February 18 to submit an amended complaint against Baldoni. Furthermore, they intend to file a motion to dismiss Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit by March 20. Lively and Reynolds' legal team has also subpoenaed phone records from Baldoni and other individuals involved in the case, seeking evidence related to the alleged plot to damage Lively's reputation. Lively's lawyers, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, stated that this discovery process aims to uncover the individuals, strategies, and methods employed to harm Lively's reputation and family. Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, has criticized this move, labeling it a "fishing expedition."
