Blake Lively makes unexpected legal move following request from Justin Baldoni amid court drama
The Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni legal saga has a new update, as court documents show the Gossip Girl star's latest request.
In 2024, Lively filed her initial lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, where she accused the director of sexual harassment and orchestrating a subsequent 'social manipulation' campaign against her.
In turn, Baldoni issued a counterclaim against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation, civil extortion, and other claims.
The two suits also included several alleged text messages between the two and their PR teams, as well as a set of alleged demands made by Lively for Baldoni and others on set.
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Both parties' legal teams have denied the claims presented in both lawsuits, with Baldoni's lawyers calling Lively's accusations 'categorically false', while the A Simple Favor star's lawyers accused the director of attempting to 'turn the tables on the victim'.
Now, Lively is attempting to withdraw her claims against Baldoni of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
The actor's attempt to withdraw the complaint surfaced in a filing on Monday (June 2) by Baldoni's attorneys, who'd filed a ruling to seek a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) release, which would require Lively to sign to allow them access to her medical records.
"Instead of complying with the Medical RFPs, Ms. Lively's counsel recently advised us, in writing, that Ms. Lively is withdrawing her [infliction of emotional distress] Claims," the suit claims (via Variety).
"However, Ms. Lively has refused the Wayfarer Parties' reasonable request that the withdrawal of such claims be with prejudice. She is only willing to withdraw her claims without prejudice.
"In other words, Ms. Lively wants to simultaneously: (a) refuse to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress and/or that the Wayfarer Parties were the cause; and (b) maintain the right to re-file her IED Claims at an unknown time in this or some other court after the discovery window has closed."
Meanwhile, Lively's lawyers Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb have dubbed the filing a 'press stunt' and that they are simply 'streamlining and focusing' her case.
They said: "The Baldoni-Wayfarer strategy of filing retaliatory claims has exposed them to expansive new damages claims under California law, rendering certain of Ms. Lively's original claims no longer necessary.
"Ms. Lively continues to allege emotional distress, as part of numerous other claims in her lawsuit, such as sexual harassment and retaliation, and massive additional compensatory damages on all of her claims."
Lively's two emotional distress claims were key components of Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni, Variety reports.
The outlet further says that it will now be up to the court to decide whether The Shallows star will be compiled to turn over information on her mental health.
UNILAD has reached out to Lively and Reynolds' representatives for comment.
Topics: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Film and TV, US News, Celebrity
Callum Jones