Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds 'ask judge to dismiss' Justin Baldoni lawsuit as It Ends With Us saga continues
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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have reportedly moved to dismiss a $400 million defamation lawsuit filed against them by actor Justin Baldoni.
It is understood the Hollywood couple's attorney, Michael J. Gottlieb, submitted a brief statement to a federal judge on Thursday, confirming their intent to seek dismissal of the case.
The filing complies with Judge Lewis Liman's procedural order requiring parties to indicate their dismissal plans in a single sentence.
Publicist Leslie Sloane, who is also named in Baldoni's suit, has filed a similar notice seeking dismissal.
The legal action comes amid an intensifying court battle between Lively and her "It Ends With Us" co-star Baldoni, with both sides agreeing to consolidate their federal cases into a single proceeding.
A New York judge has scheduled the first hearing for Monday, where attorneys from both sides will convene to discuss several pressing matters.
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively at the It Ends With Us premiere GETTYThe trial date has been set for March 2026, with an initial conference moved forward from mid-February to next week.
Monday's hearing will address concerns regarding Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, whose conduct has drawn scrutiny from Lively's legal team.
The attorneys are specifically scheduled to discuss Freedman's extrajudicial conduct, according to Variety.
Both federal cases will be heard in a consolidated proceeding, streamlining the legal process between the It Ends With Us co-stars.
Claims have been made on both sides following the release of It Ends With Us
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Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the filming of It Ends With Us and claims he later engaged in a smear campaign against her.
The actress's complaints included allegations of inappropriate behaviour on set, including showing nude videos of women and unwanted discussions about personal matters.
Baldoni has denied all allegations, contending that Lively misrepresented their interactions by taking text messages out of context.
In his January lawsuit, Baldoni claimed Lively "falsely" accused him in an attempt to repair her reputation following issues with the film's press tour.
The suit also alleges that Lively and Reynolds pressured talent agency WME to drop Baldoni as a client, though WME has denied any such influence.
Both parties have firmly denied the allegations made against them.
Baldoni's legal team has indicated they wish to conduct Lively's deposition at the earliest opportunity.
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It Ends With Us star Blake Lively came under intense scrutiny on social media last year
GettyHowever, Lively has objected to Freedman conducting the deposition, leading to a dispute between the parties.
"We are unaware of any situation that would warrant the deposed party to have a choice in which attorney takes her deposition," wrote Kevin Fritz, one of Baldoni's lawyers.
Lively's legal team has expressed serious concerns about Freedman's public statements, suggesting they could taint the jury pool.
"As Ms. Lively's counsel have attempted, repeatedly, to caution Mr. Freedman, federal litigation must be conducted in court and according to the relevant rules of professional conduct," her legal team stated in a letter.
They argue Freedman's statements are "deliberately aimed at undermining the character, credibility, and reputation of numerous relevant parties."
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