Blake Lively Seeks to Bar Justin Baldoni From Litigating Case in the Press

by

Blake Lively‘s lawyers have had enough of Justin Baldoni‘s PR campaign.

On Tuesday evening, they contended before a federal judge that Bryan Freedman, legal representative of Baldoni, had breached the New York Guidelines for Professional Conduct by conducting their dispute in the media instead of the courtroom.

ever since Lively initially made claims of sexual harassment and retaliation against her “It Ends With Us” co-star Baldoni last month, Freedman has been actively addressing these accusations through various media outlets. Not unfamiliar with high-profile disputes, Freedman has presented counterarguments for Baldoni, providing a range of evidence that he claims refutes the allegations.

For Lively’s team, the final breaking point arrived on Tuesday when Freedman made public 10 minutes of uncensored footage from the slow dance scene in “It Ends With Us”. This was after Lively claimed that Baldoni had harassed her during filming of the scene, while Freedman countered by stating that the footage demonstrated a routine professional exchange.

In response, Lively’s legal team alleged that Freedman was deliberately disclosing discovery materials selectively, and requested Judge Lewis J. Liman to schedule a hearing to discuss the suitable behavior of the attorneys involved.

People supporting Baldoni’s camp contend that it would be extremely unjust to silence Freedman, as he is merely protecting his client against Lively’s malicious “attack strategy,” which took shape through an extensive piece published in the New York Times.

Baldoni’s group intends to create a website for the purpose of providing additional details to counter Lively’s claims.

Lively’s team has not demanded, as of now, a total “silence order” that would prevent Freedman from communicating with the media. Interestingly, New York’s Rules of Professional Conduct actually permit lawyers to make statements outside court to protect their clients from unfavorable publicity.

As a devoted fan, I understand the legal team’s intention to uphold the rule that discourages public comments which might potentially influence the jury’s decision. They are also working diligently to secure a protective order, ensuring that any case-related materials remain confidential and aren’t disclosed publicly.

Lawsuits involving the federal government should be handled within a courtroom, adhering to the appropriate guidelines for ethical legal practice,” their attorneys stated.

In December, lawyers representing Lively delivered two warning letters to Freedman, claiming that his comments were contributing to a continued campaign of retribution against Lively, as she had filed an initial complaint of harassment.

Lawyers should not be confused with public relations specialists,” the statement reads. “Our profession demands adherence to unique ethical guidelines distinct from those that apply to publicists or crisis management experts.

Those letters have had little apparent effect.

Read More

2025-01-24 00:47