In a legal clash gaining widespread attention, Blake Lively‘s legal team has filed a motion for sanctions against Bryan Freedman, the lead attorney representing Justin Baldoni. The motion alleges that Freedman has embarked on a pre-trial “press tour” designed to tarnish Lively’s reputation. This case centers on serious allegations, as Lively claims she experienced sexual harassment on the set of “It Ends With Us,” followed by an orchestrated online smear campaign by Baldoni and his associates. The ongoing dispute raises significant questions about legal ethics and public influence prior to trial.
Allegations Against Freedman
Lively’s legal representatives have consistently argued that Freedman has been making improper out-of-court statements aimed at swaying potential jurors’ opinions. In February, at the behest of Lively’s team, Judge Lewis Liman mandated compliance with the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, which specifically prohibit character assaults against the opposing party.
Press Tour Accusations
According to Monday’s motion, Lively’s team claims that Freedman has repeatedly violated this order by engaging in “biased and inflammatory pre-trial indictments of Ms. Lively’s character, credibility and reputation.” The motion references various interviews and statements Freedman has made to prominent media outlets, including TMZ and People, implying that Lively might be “afraid of the truth” and could avoid attending her deposition.
Deposition Disputes
Lively recently attended her deposition, after which Baldoni’s attorneys filed a motion related to a discovery dispute, including a sealed copy of Lively’s deposition transcript. Lively’s lawyers are seeking to have the 292-page transcript removed from the court record, arguing it should remain confidential unless specific excerpts are necessary for legal arguments.
The motion further accuses Baldoni’s team of leveraging the deposition as part of their public relations strategy, forcing Lively’s team either to block its disclosure or defend keeping it sealed. “The Wayfarer Defendants and their counsel hope to make Ms. Lively defend the continued sealing of the transcript so they can advance a false narrative that Ms. Lively is afraid of her deposition testimony becoming public, which is entirely untrue and deeply harmful,” stated Lively’s attorneys.
Seeking Sanctions
In their push for sanctions, Lively’s team is asking for a public reprimand of Freedman and the recovery of attorneys’ fees. They assert that Freedman’s media engagements are a “public relations stunt,” raising concerns about potential juror bias. The unfolding case underscores the tension between legal proceedings and public narratives, particularly in high-profile disputes involving celebrities.
