Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have yet to find common ground in their ongoing legal battle, as both sides have agreed that any potential settlement discussions are premature.
The latest developments, as revealed in a court filing obtained by Fox News Digital, indicate that neither party sees mediation as a viable solution at this stage.
A joint letter submitted to Judge Lewis Liman by the legal teams representing Lively and Baldoni confirmed that they both believe traditional mediation
and discovery protocols are not appropriate for this case.
The federal judge sided with the It Ends With Us co-stars and officially granted their request on Thursday.
Allegations and Countersuits: A Heated Legal War
The dispute between Lively and Baldoni escalated in December when Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath. Her complaint, first submitted to the California Civil Rights Department before being transferred to federal court, included serious allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, emotional distress, and negligence.
Baldoni, in response, filed a separate lawsuit in January, claiming that Lively’s accusations were false and designed to repair her public image following backlash surrounding It Ends With Us. His legal team argues that Lively has no substantial evidence to support her claims and that she is attempting to shift blame for the negative press the film received.
Both Lively and Baldoni have denied the allegations made against them, fueling an intense legal standoff with no resolution in sight.
Lively and Ryan Reynolds Fight Back
As Lively fights Baldoni’s lawsuit, she has the full support of her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The couple has until February 18 to file an amended version of their complaint against Baldoni. In addition, they are expected to submit a motion to dismiss Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit by March 20.
Lively’s legal team has also taken steps to investigate the extent of Baldoni’s alleged involvement in an effort to tarnish her reputation. Subpoenas have been issued for phone records belonging to Baldoni and others connected to the case.
Her lawyers, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, released a statement to Fox News Digital, asserting that they are determined to uncover the truth.
“Ms. Lively has initiated discovery that will expose the people, tactics, and methods that have worked to ‘destroy’ and ‘bury’ her reputation and family over the past year,” they stated. “We will now receive all of the ‘receipts’ that, unsurprisingly, are nowhere to be found on Mr. Freedman’s website, and like Ms. Lively, those ‘receipts’ will have their day in court.”
Baldoni’s Legal Team Dismisses Lively’s Claims
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has strongly denied any wrongdoing on his client’s part and criticized Lively’s legal maneuvers. He described her efforts to obtain phone records as a “fishing expedition,” implying that she is grasping at straws in an attempt to support her case.
What’s Next?
As of now, neither Lively nor Baldoni has indicated any willingness to settle the dispute outside of court. With both sides locked in an increasingly bitter legal battle, the case appears to be heading toward a prolonged courtroom showdown.
With deadlines for amended filings and dismissal motions approaching, the next few weeks could be pivotal in determining the trajectory of this high-profile legal feud. For now, the drama between Lively and Baldoni continues to unfold both in and out of the courtroom, with no clear resolution in sight.
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
