Additional Coverage:
- Judge calls Blake Lively’s subpoenas for Justin Baldoni’s phone records ‘overly intrusive’ (businessinsider.com)
Judge Rules Against Blake Lively in Phone Records Dispute with Justin Baldoni
Manhattan Federal Judge Lewis Litman has ruled against actress Blake Lively in her attempt to obtain phone records from actor and director Justin Baldoni and his associates. The ruling comes amidst an ongoing legal battle between the “It Ends With Us” co-stars, stemming from Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit and Baldoni’s countersuit for defamation.
Lively had sought phone records dating back to 2022, aiming to uncover evidence of a purported smear campaign against her. However, Judge Litman deemed the subpoenas “overly intrusive and disproportionate,” questioning their relevance given Lively’s claim that the alleged campaign began in 2024. He stated that the request for such broad access to private information, including calls to doctors and personal contacts, was not justified.
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, celebrated the decision as a significant victory, characterizing Lively’s efforts as a “desperate fishing expedition.” A spokesperson for Lively, however, countered by suggesting that Freedman is attempting to hide relevant information, and expressed confidence in obtaining the records through more specific requests.
While the judge denied access to the phone records of Baldoni and his co-defendants, including his production company and publicists, he did not rule out the possibility of Lively obtaining records from individuals not named in the lawsuit. The legal battle continues, with Lively’s team expected to respond to the judge’s order by March 4th.