Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have escalated their legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, now seeking court sanctions against Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, over alleged “extrajudicial statements” made to the media.
In a new legal filing, Lively and Reynolds’ attorneys are also moving to block Freedman from deposing Lively in her ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against Baldoni.
According to Deadline, this latest maneuver was filed just hours after Lively and Reynolds formally requested the dismissal of Baldoni’s $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against them, further intensifying their legal standoff.
The high-profile case is set to be addressed in a pretrial conference on February 3 before federal Judge Lewis J. Liman in New York. During the hearing, Lively and Reynolds’ legal team will push for a protective order to prevent Freedman from questioning Lively under oath.
Baldoni’s legal team, led by attorney Kevin Fritz, has opposed Lively’s motion, arguing that no party in litigation has the right to dictate the role of opposing counsel in depositions.
The case has been marked by a series of contentious filings, heated public statements, and accusations from both sides. Freedman has publicly accused Lively and her legal team of doubling down on “revoltingly false” claims against Baldoni, further fueling tensions.
Adding another layer to the dispute, Baldoni has also filed a separate $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, further entangling his legal troubles.
As the legal battle intensifies, all eyes will be on the upcoming court proceedings, where the judge’s rulings could significantly impact the trajectory of both lawsuits. With high stakes and reputations on the line, the conflict between these Hollywood heavyweights shows no signs of slowing down.