Additional Coverage:
- Blake Lively demands that Justin Baldoni’s lawyer be sanctioned after accusing him of creating a ‘media circus’ (businessinsider.com)
Legal Sparring Intensifies in Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni Case
The legal battle surrounding Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, continues to escalate. Lively’s legal team has filed a motion for sanctions against Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, accusing him of orchestrating a media “smear campaign” and leaking confidential information.
Lively’s attorneys allege that Freedman has violated professional conduct rules by making disparaging public statements about Lively, including calling her a liar, “narcissist,” and “Hollywood elite.” They cite instances where Freedman allegedly made negative comments about Lively in interviews, including one with Megyn Kelly, and accuse him of leaking details of Lively’s recent deposition to the media. Specifically, they point to a TMZ article that highlighted Baldoni’s presence at the deposition and allege that Freedman improperly filed a sealed copy of the deposition transcript publicly.
The motion requests that Judge Lewis Liman issue a public admonishment of Freedman and order him to pay Lively’s legal fees. Lively’s team argues that Freedman’s actions are intended to damage her credibility and prejudice potential jurors.
Freedman and his legal team have not yet responded publicly to these accusations. This latest development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing legal dispute, and the outcome of the sanctions motion could have a substantial impact on the case’s trajectory.