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Judge Denies Request to Delay Taylor Swift’s Deposition in Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni Legal Battle
A judge has denied Justin Baldoni’s request to push back Taylor Swift’s deposition in the ongoing legal dispute between Baldoni and Blake Lively. Judge Lewis Liman rejected the request for an extension until the end of October, citing a lack of diligence from Baldoni’s legal team.
Baldoni’s attorneys claimed Swift’s “preexisting professional obligations,” specifically the upcoming release of her new album, prevented her from appearing sooner. However, Judge Liman pointed out that the request came at the last minute, with discovery having been underway for six months. He also noted the absence of a renewed subpoena for Swift.
The situation grew more complicated when Baldoni’s team claimed Swift had agreed to the deposition, a claim disputed by Swift’s attorney. Swift’s lawyer stated she had not agreed to a deposition but would comply with a court order. They suggested the week of October 20 as a possible timeframe if scheduling conflicts could be resolved.
Lively’s attorneys accused Baldoni’s team of using Swift’s name to garner media attention for the case. They highlighted the lack of evidence supporting the claim that Swift had agreed to a deposition and criticized the late notice given to Swift’s counsel.
While Baldoni’s initial lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds was dismissed, Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and retaliation against Baldoni are still proceeding. Swift’s connection to the case stems from text messages revealed in Baldoni’s dismissed countersuit, which included mentions of “Taylor” in discussions about the film “It Ends With Us.”
Swift licensed a song for the film’s soundtrack. She was previously subpoenaed in May, but that subpoena was later withdrawn.
The trial is scheduled for next spring in a New York federal court.