In the latest legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the “It Ends With Us” stars’ lawyers have reportedly been called in for settlement talks. This update came hours after the actress suffered a severe blow after an American judge rejected 10 out of 13 lawsuits, including a sexual harassment lawsuit.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni summoned for ‘settlement’
According to the Daily Mail, the actors’ lawyers were unexpectedly summoned to discuss their client’s recent openness to settling their case, before it goes to trial. Both sides have been told they must address their clients’ “updated settlement position”. Lawyers have reportedly been directed to summon US Magistrate Sarah Keefe on Monday in separate sessions, who will not be allowed to hold a public hearing.
Lively’s lawyers will reportedly be there first at 3 p.m., while Baldoni and his company Wayfarer Productions will have their time an hour later.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively failed to reach a settlement
Settlement talks between Blake and Justin in mid-February continued for several hours, but proved futile as both sides prepared to go to trial. It remains to be seen whether Monday’s discussions will be different, considering that Manhattan federal Judge Louis Lehman also dismissed Lively’s “defamation and conspiracy” claims, but allowed her claims of “retaliation and breach of contract” against Baldoni to continue.
Their civil trial is scheduled for May 18.
Justin Baldoni’s attorney issues a statement
Baldoni’s lead attorney, Brian Friedman, broke his silence about the big win in the lawsuit. Speaking to TMZ, he said: “It is gratifying to see that the court ruling confirms what the legal team has believed since day one.”“From day one of this case, when Justin and the other defendants were surprised by these allegations, the legal team has worked on the ground from the beginning for very long days and nights defending this case through transparency, through publishing the actual truthful text messages, and through welcoming and facilitating the release of all documents that show the truth,” his statement read.“Neither Justin Baldoni, Jamie Heath, nor any of my co-defendants participated in Blake Lively’s sexual harassment,” he reiterated and added that despite accusing his clients of DARVO (Denial, Attack, Reverse Victim-Offender) and referring to them as “predators,” Friedman added, “Our clients are very good people and did not participate in this sexual harassment as is alleged. As such, they deserve a vigorous defense, which was conducted through transparency.”
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Justin Baldoni’s legal team is ready for trial
Supporting attorneys, Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach, also expressed their excitement at the big win. In a statement to the Daily Mail, they said: “We are very pleased that the court dismissed all of the sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jami Heath, Steve Sarewitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Appel. These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the court for its careful review of the facts, the law, and the extensive evidence that was presented.”
“They expressed their intention to take the matter to trial, saying: “What remains is a very narrow case, and we look forward to presenting our defense of the remaining claims in court.”
Blake Lively’s legal team reacts
Although the judge dismissed all of the “sexual harassment” claims, Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, insisted that her allegations remain “the beating heart of Ms. Lively’s case. That is why she filed the lawsuit.”According to Gottlieb’s statement shared with PEOPLE, he said, “The court held that Ms. Lively’s sexual harassment allegations could not go to a jury because Ms. Lively did not sign a contract, is an independent contractor rather than an employee, and that the abusive conduct occurred in New Jersey rather than California.”
About the lawsuit
Lively had filed a complaint against Baldoni and producer Jimmy Heath for their inappropriate behavior and comments while filming the romantic drama “It Ends with Us.”The complaint said Baldoni, who also directed the film, spoke inappropriately about his sex life and sought to edit the film to include sex scenes that were not in the script and had not been agreed upon. Baldoni and the Wayfarer studio sued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, on allegations of extortion and defamation, but Judge Lehman dismissed those claims last year.She also said Heath saw Lively topless, even though she was told to stay away. She also said Baldoni launched a public relations campaign to destroy Lively’s reputation. Wayfarer previously insisted that neither the studio, its executives, nor its PR team did anything to retaliate against Lively.
