A federal judge has ruled that Blake Lively's emotional distress claims against Justin Baldoni will be dismissed. Lively's refusal to turn over medical records related to the emotional distress allegations sparked heated exchanges.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman denied Baldoni's request to compel Lively to sign a HIPAA release for therapy notes and other medical records. Lively told the judge she would withdraw the emotional distress claims, which prompted the order. The judge denied Lively's request to dismiss the emotional distress claims without prejudice, which would have allowed her to refile them later, as there was no formal agreement with Baldoni's side. If the claims are not dismissed, Lively will not be able to present evidence of emotional distress.
Per court documents, Baldoni's attorneys claimed that Lively wanted to drop the emotional distress claims without releasing her medical information, preventing the defense from disproving them. Lively was accused of withholding evidence to preserve the right to refile the emotional distress claims after discovery. Lively's lawyers, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, called the motion to dismiss the emotional distress claims a “press stunt” and accused Baldoni's lawyers of court abuse. They said Lively withdrew the claims voluntarily and will pursue emotional distress damages from sexual harassment and retaliation.
Lively sued Baldoni in the Southern District of New York, alleging he sexually harassed her on the 2024 film It Ends With Us and retaliated with a smear campaign, leading to emotional distress. Baldoni countersued Lively and Ryan Reynolds for $400 million for extortion and defamation over a New York Times article, claiming it damaged his reputation and caused financial harm.
Six lawsuits related to the film, including claims of harassment, defamation, and financial damages, are pending in various courts, adding layers of complexity to the legal battle. The ruling is significant in this complex, high-profile legal dispute as it sets a precedent for handling emotional distress claims and evidentiary issues in similar high-stakes cases.
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