Justin Baldoni faces reduced allegations by Blake Lively, with two charges dropped.
Fresh Take:
Blake Lively Yanks Two Claims Against Justin Baldoni: Mental Torment Dropped From Lawsuit
The lurid drama brewing between Blake Lively and her former co-star Justin Baldoni has taken a fresh twist. Dubious claims of mental torture against Justin are about to hit the dustbin, according to recent reports from the US.
The long-awaited trial between the American actress and Justin Baldoni, the director-actor, is still on the horizon. But Justin's attorneys are busy planning their defense and angling for access to Lively's medical records, which they believe will help their case. Lively's legal eagles have sprung an unexpected surprise, though.
According to entertainment bible Variety, Lively will be pulling the plug on two charges against Justin: "intentional infliction of mental anguish" and "negligent infliction of mental anguish." Justin's team has seized this opportunity to request Lively's medical records, hoping to capture therapy notes among other documents, to protect themselves against the allegation that they caused Lively emotional turmoil. Instead of coughing up these docs, Lively's lawyers have notified Justin's legal team that their client wishes to abandon these claims.
Rumor Mill: Taylor Swift Spared from Witness Box
Lively's Lawyers Slam Request as a "Publicity Stunt"
Lively's legal whizzes Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson have branded Justin's request a publicity ploy by the opposition. They aim to streamline the case and zero in on the core issues. They've also confirmed that Lively will keep pressing the mental anguish front in different parts of the lawsuit. Justin's team has yet to comment on the matter.
The court will now mull over the demand. Accessing medical records when such claims are lodged is common practice in the US. The beef between Lively and Justin is now intertwined with half a dozen lawsuits.
Rumor Mill: Blake's Legal Battle: A Dark Chapter in Her Life
The debacle goes back to the making of the film "It Ends with Us," where Lively and Justin played leads, and Justin directed. The movie premiered in theaters in the sweltering summer of 2024. In December, Lively ratted out Justin to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Soon after, she flung a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment and a sinister smear campaign. Justin refuses to cop to these charges and has retaliated with a $400 million lawsuit, charging Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds with defamation and extortion. The trial is set for March 2026.
- USA
- H-town Hustle
- Courtroom Drama
- Movie MayhemThe legal wrangle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni revolves around Lively's allegations that Justin subjected her to sexual harassment during the production of the movie "It Ends with Us." Justin has retaliated with a countersuit, charging Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds with defamation and extortion.
Court Update:- Emotional Distress Claims: Although Lively withdrew the emotional distress charges, a judge hasn't made a final decision on their dismissal, pending agreement from both parties [2][4].- Trial Timeline: The trial is slated to kick off on March 9, 2025 [1][4].
Mental Anguish Claims:- Initially, Lively had made allegations of mental anguish, which she is now dropping to avoid disclosing her confidential medical records [1][2].- However, these withdrawals don't mean Lively is backing down entirely on the mental anguish issue, as her lawsuit still includes accusations that could potentially highlight emotional distress she may have experienced [1][3].
I'm not sure if the entertainment world has ever witnessed such a high-profile legal battle as the one between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Despite withdrawing claims of intentional and negligent infliction of mental anguish, it seems Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni still addresses potential emotional distress related to their work on the film "It Ends with Us."
