[Blake Lively’s Lawyers Accuse Opponent’s Lawyer of Making “Misleading and Selective” Statements
Blake Lively’s lawyers have accused Justin Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, of making “misleading and selective” statements about Lively in an ongoing legal dispute over alleged sexual harassment and defamation.
Lively’s team filed a letter in the Southern District of New York on Tuesday, the same day that Freedman released video footage from the set of “It Ends With Us,” a film at the center of the legal battle. Freedman claimed the footage “refutes” Lively’s characterization of Baldoni’s behavior.
The letter, obtained by CNN, cites that Lively’s legal team had previously sent two cease-and-desist letters to cease what they deemed “defamatory, and retaliatory, statements relating to Ms. Lively.” The letters were addressed to the production company Wayfarer Studios, which includes members of Baldoni’s publicity team, and to Freedman directly.
The lawyers argue that Freedman’s statements threaten to “materially prejudice” the case and requested a hearing to address his conduct. They also claim that Freedman’s actions will “taint the jury pool” and intend to seek a “protective order to govern further proceedings” in the case.
Baldoni has denied Lively’s allegations, and both parties have filed lawsuits against each other. Lively’s initial complaint was filed with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) in December, while Baldoni has filed a $250 million libel suit against The New York Times and a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane.
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