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Much of the ongoing legal battle between It Ends with Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has played out in the public eye through the media. And according to reports, Lively’s legal team is looking to put an end to that trend.
Earlier this week, Justin Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman released 10-minute footage from the set of It Ends with Us that showcased an intimate scene between Baldoni’s and Blake Lively’s characters being filmed.
While Freedman believed the footage exonerated his client, Lively’s legal time responded by saying “every frame of the released footage corroborates, to the letter, what Ms. Lively described” in her complaint alleging sexual harassment.
In the days since the publication of the footage, Lively’s legal team has taken steps to block Baldoni’s team from pulling a move like this again, arguing that Freedman is leaking sensitive “discovery materials,” otherwise known as evidence.
“In response, Lively’s lawyers accused Freedman of selectively leaking discovery materials, and asked Judge Lewis J. Liman to set a hearing to ‘address the appropriate conduct of counsel.’”
“Sources in Baldoni’s camp argued that it would be ‘grossly unfair’ to gag Freedman, given that he is simply defending his client from Lively’s defamatory ‘takedown campaign,’ which was launched in the form of a lengthy article in the New York Times. Baldoni’s team plans to set up a website to release more information to rebut Lively’s accusations. [via Variety]
To be clear, Lively’s team is not seeking a gag order that bar sBaldoni’s lawyers from speaking to the press entirely, as the New York Rules of Professional Conduct allows for attorneys to make statements on their clients behalf through the media.
What Lively’s team is looking to stop is the release of discovery materials in the case, such as the 10-minute raw footage from the set of It Ends with Us that was published earlier this week. They’re also trying to get the judge to enforce a state rule that prevents lawyers from making statements that could prejudice a jury.
“The Lively Parties’ desire to force the Wayfarer Parties to defend themselves privately against allegations made publicly is not a proper basis for a gag order,” Kevin Fritz, another attorney for Baldoni, said in a statement. “It is tactical gamesmanship, and it is outrageous. If, as the Lively Parties’ letter suggests, such a protective order is formally requested, it should be denied.”
Last week, Baldoni sued Lively, husband Ryan Reynolds and their publicist Leslie Sloane for $400 million in damages, alleging civil extortion and defamation. This follows Lively filing a complain in California in December that alleged Baldoni sexually harassed her and behaved inappropriately on the set of It Ends with Us.