Blake Lively Justin Baldoni Claims Withdrawn
- Blake Lively has dropped claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress in her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director of the film...
- According to court documents, Baldoni's legal team had requested Lively to release her medical records, including therapy notes, to substantiate her claims of "severe emotional distress and pain."...
- Judge Lewis Liman has addressed the matter,denying Baldoni's motion to compel the release of Lively's medical records,contingent on the withdrawal of the emotional distress claims.
Blake Lively has withdrawn her emotional distress claims against justin Baldoni in their ongoing legal battle, stemming from allegations of sexual harassment adn a smear campaign, marking a meaningful turn in the lawsuit. The actress, known for her role in “It Ends With Us,” is still pursuing other claims, including sexual harassment and retaliation, seeking compensatory damages. Baldoni’s team had sought Lively’s medical records to substantiate her claims, a request that Judge Lewis Liman addressed by denying the motion but stipulating the dismissal’s terms: either with or without prejudice. Lively’s attorneys called Baldoni’s team’s actions a “press stunt,” a move that News Directory 3 is covering. The actress’s legal team maintains she continues to allege emotional distress linked to other counts. Discover what’s next as this case unfolds.
Blake Lively Drops Emotional Distress Claims in Justin Baldoni Lawsuit
Updated June 03, 2025
Blake Lively has dropped claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress in her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director of the film “It Ends With Us.” The move comes months after Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and a public smear campaign following the film’s release, which is based on Colleen Hoover‘s bestselling novel. The lawsuit has seen several twists and turns, including Baldoni’s initial plans to countersue Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
According to court documents, Baldoni’s legal team had requested Lively to release her medical records, including therapy notes, to substantiate her claims of “severe emotional distress and pain.” While Lively is withdrawing these specific claims, she is reportedly doing so without prejudice, meaning she reserves the right to refile them later. This detail has drawn criticism from Baldoni’s team, who view it as an attempt to avoid disclosing information while keeping the option open to revisit the claims.
Judge Lewis Liman has addressed the matter,denying Baldoni’s motion to compel the release of Lively’s medical records,contingent on the withdrawal of the emotional distress claims. He stipulated that the dismissal be clarified as either with or without prejudice; otherwise, Lively would be barred from presenting evidence of emotional distress.
Lively’s legal team, consisting of Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, dismissed Baldoni’s team’s filing as a “press stunt.” They maintain that Lively continues to allege emotional distress as part of othre claims in her lawsuit, including sexual harassment and retaliation, seeking compensatory damages.
“The Baldoni-Wayfarer strategy of filing retaliatory claims has exposed them to expansive new damages claims under California law, rendering certain of Ms Lively’s original claims no longer necessary. Ms Lively continues to allege emotional distress, as part of numerous other claims in her lawsuit, such as sexual harassment and retaliation, and massive additional compensatory damages on all of her claims.”
Esra hudson and Mike Gottlieb, Lively’s lawyers
The legal dispute also involves a separate $250 million libel lawsuit filed by baldoni and others against the New York Times, following an article detailing baldoni’s alleged efforts to publicly discredit Lively. The plaintiffs in that case accuse the Times of “cherrypicking” facts.
What’s next
The remaining claims in Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni, including those of sexual harassment and retaliation, are expected to proceed. The court will likely address the terms of the dismissal of the emotional distress claims, specifically whether it is with or without prejudice, in the coming weeks. The Hollywood community will be watching closely as this case unfolds.