Hot Water for Justin Baldoni: Blake Lively Ditches Two Claims Against Him
Justin Baldoni faces the withdrawal of two charges initiated by Blake Lively.
No trial yet, but lawyers are busy as Blake Lively drops claims of mental anguish against Justin Baldoni.
The aggravation between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni just got steamier! According to the latest reports from Variety, Lively is giving up two of her claims against Baldoni. These allegations involved intentional and negligent infliction of mental anguish.
Baldoni's team is pressing the issue hard, demanding access to Lively's medical records, hoping to bolster their client's case against the claim of causing "severe mental anguish." They are particularly interested in therapy notes and other relevant documents. However, Lively's lawyers have other plans. Instead of handing over the documents, they've intimated Baldoni's legal team that their client wants to drop these claims.
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Meanwhile, Taylor Swift won't have to step into the Lively-Baldoni legal mess.
Publicity Stunt or Strategic Move?
Lively's lawyers, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, branded Baldoni's request as a publicity stunt. Their intention is to keep the case focused and lean. They assure that mental anguish will still play a part in other aspects of the lawsuit. Unsurprisingly, Baldoni's team is yet to comment on this allegation.
Judge's Verdict Pending
With emotional distress claims out of the way, it's up to the court now. Normally in the US, access to medical records is granted when such claims are made. This dispute is linked to six lawsuits, stemming from the movie "It Ends with Us."
A Dark Chapter in Lively's Life Revealed
The drama began during the filming of "It Ends with Us," with Lively filing a complaint in December 2024 with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. She later sued Baldoni for sexual harassment and a suspected smear campaign. Baldoni denies the allegations and counter-sued, claiming defamation, extortion, and more, with a staggering $400 million lawsuit. The trial is scheduled for March 2026.
USA, Hollywood, Sexual Harassment, Cinema
Insights:
- Lively has dropped two out of six claims against Baldoni, distancing herself from emotional distress allegations.
- Baldoni's team sought access to Lively's medical records to bolster their case, but Lively's lawyers cited this as a publicity stunt.
- The trial between Lively and Baldoni is set for March 2026, with Judge Lewis J. Liman presiding over the case in the Southern District of New York.
I'm not sure if the dropping of two claims by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni is a strategic move or a genuine change of heart. Despite the dismissal of the emotional distress claims, mental anguish still seems to play a role in other aspects of the case, possibly related to the ongoing lawsuit stemming from the movie "It Ends with Us."
