A US judge cautioned lawyers representing Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni to refrain from making public statements about their legal dispute stemming from Lively’s sexual harassment allegations against Baldoni during the filming of 'It Ends With Us.' Judge Lewis Liman issued a warning after Lively’s lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, accused Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, of violating professional ethics rules by publicly labeling Lively a “bully.” Both actors are involved in separate lawsuits, with Lively suing Baldoni for $400 million and Baldoni countersuing for $400 million.
A US judge on Monday, February 3, admonished lawyers for Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively not to publicly discuss the actors’ competing civil lawsuits stemming from Lively’s claim that Baldoni sexually harassed her while filming the movie.Lively’s lawyer Michael Gottlieb complained to US District Judge Lewis Liman at a hearing in Manhattan federal court that Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman violated professional ethics rules for lawyers by accusing Lively of “bullying.
” “It’s very hard to un-ring the bell,” Gottlieb said, arguing that such statements could taint the jury pool for the scheduled March 2026 trial. He pointed to statements made by Baldoni’s lawyer in a magazine article and in a podcast appearance as a response to a December 21 article that sided with Lively. “This has not been a one-way street,” he said. Liman adopted a New York state rule barring most out-of-court statements that could affect a case’s outcome, with an exception for protecting a client from prejudicial adverse publicity. The judge could sanction lawyers for violations. Neither Gottlieb nor Freedman objected. Neither Lively nor Baldoni attended Monday’s hearing. Lively filed a $400 million lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2023, claiming he sexually harassed her during the filming of their movie, 'It Ends With Us.' Her claims included that Baldoni, who also directed the film, kissed her beyond what was required during a scene he insisted be shot “over and over again.” Lively also said Baldoni retaliated by launching a public smear campaign in anticipation of the sexual harassment allegations becoming public. Baldoni and Wayfarer countered with a $400 million defamation lawsuit on January 16, saying the harassment allegations were false and Lively initiated the unchoreographed kissing. They also accused Lively of plotting to release her own cut of the film, ousting Baldoni from marketing efforts, and using promotional efforts for the film to advertise her hair care and alcoholic beverage products. In addition to the defamation lawsuit, Wayfarer also filed a separate lawsuit for $250 million, accusing the newspaper of defamation for uncritically taking Lively’s side in the December 21 article
Blake Lively Justin Baldoni It Ends With Us Sexual Harassment Defamation Lawsuit Judge Lewis Liman Bryan Freedman Michael Gottlieb
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