- Title: Judge warns Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively lawyers about out-of-court statements
- Date: 3rd February 2025
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 3, 2025) (REUTERS) ATTORNEY FOR JUSTIN BALDONI, BRYAN FREEDMAN, AT MICROPHONE STAND (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATTORNEY FOR JUSTIN BALDONI, BRYAN FREEDMAN, SAYING: JOURNALIST: "How do you feel about how the proceeding went today?" FREEDMAN: "We're really pleased with how the proceeding went. We really respect Judge (Lewis) Liman. We're really looking forward to moving the case along as quickly as possible. My clients are devastated and want to move the case along as quickly as possible. We just couldn't be more pleased with how the case is handled today, how it's managed, and we're going to move as quickly as we possibly can and prove (our) innocence in a world where sometimes people judge you before they give you a chance, and we're going to change that. Thank you." FREEDMAN WALKING AWAY FREEDMAN GETTING INTO VEHICLE VARIOUS OF BLAKE LIVELY'S ATTORNEYS INCLUDING SIGRID MCCAWLEY (KNOWN FOR REPRESENTING JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S VICTIMS), ATTORNEY FOR CO-DEFENDANT LESLIE SLOANE, STANDING OUTSIDE OF COURTHOUSE VARIOUS OF LIVELY'S LEAD ATTORNEY, MICHAEL GOTTLIEB, WALKING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATTORNEY FOR BLAKE LIVELY, MICHAEL GOTTLIEB, SAYING: GOTTLIEB: "We're very happy with the result today. Everything that we had to say, we said in court, so for those of you who were there, you saw everything we had to say." JOURNALIST: "And you're OK with the website that they put up?" GOTTLIEB: "Like I said, everything we had to say, I said up there in court in front of Judge Liman. We're very happy with how the hearing went and what the outcome was." VARIOUS OF GOTTLIEB WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 17th February 2025 19:29
- Keywords: Blake Lively Justin Baldoni
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: US
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions,North America
- Reuters ID: LVA001845103022025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A U.S. 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 "It Ends With Us."
Lively's lawyer Michael Gottlieb complained to U.S. 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.
Freedman suggested that his comments to "People" magazine and in a podcast appearance were a response to a Dec. 21 New York Times article that "completely devastated" Baldoni.
"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 sued Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios on Dec. 31.
Her claims included that Baldoni, who also directed "It Ends With Us," 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 Jan. 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.
Baldoni and Wayfarer have also sued the New York Times for $250 million, accusing the newspaper of defamation for uncritically taking Lively's side in the Dec. 21 article.
A Times spokesperson said the newspaper would vigorously defend against Baldoni's lawsuit.
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