Lawyers for Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni get a reality check from federal judge

Federal Judge Lewis Liman has issued a warning regarding the heated public dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, urging both parties' lawyers to adhere to court rules regarding public statements to ensure the fairness of the trial. The judge hinted that he might move the trial, currently scheduled to begin on March 9, 2026, forward if the lawyers can refrain from making inflammatory public comments that could taint potential jurors.

At the hearing in Manhattan federal court, neither actor was present, and lawyers reiterated their respective claims, accusing the other side of unfair conduct. Multiple lawsuits have been filed since rumors of a rift between Baldoni and Lively emerged. Lively alleges that Baldoni and producer Jamie Heath sexually harassed her during filming and that certain industry safety standards were not followed.

Lively claims that she and Ryan Reynolds resolved the issue before the film's release and accuses Baldoni of orchestrating a defamation campaign to "destroy" her reputation. Baldoni is countersuing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. He claims that Lively used false "sexual harassment allegations to unilaterally control all aspects of the production."

Lively's lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, complained that Baldoni's lawyers have made inflammatory statements in public that have had a devastating impact on Lively. He said she is "very eager to move forward and have her day in court." Brian Freedman, the lawyer representing Baldoni and his production company, stated that his client has suffered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages because of Lively's claims that she was sexually harassed on the film set. Freedman stated that he didn't want to say "they started it," but that's what happened when Lively complained to the media about Baldoni.

This week, Baldoni created a website detailing his timeline of allegations against Lively. Over the weekend, a website called "thelawsuitinfo.com" went live, linking to two documents: Baldoni's amended complaint and a 168-page document titled "Timeline of Relevant Events." People familiar with the case were not surprised by the website, as Baldoni's legal team had previously raised the idea of launching one. Lively's lawyers claim that Baldoni will use such a website to prejudice potential jurors against her, stating that his legal team is: "...engaging in this out-of-court activity to influence these proceedings and the public's perception of legal filings submitted to this court, and there is already a serious risk of jury taint from his misconduct."

In response, Baldoni's lawyer said, "We just want people to see the actual text messages that directly refute her allegations, the video footage that clearly shows there was no sexual harassment, and all the other powerful evidence that directly refutes any false allegations." Judge Lewis Liman, who is overseeing Lively's lawsuit and Baldoni's countersuit, has informed both parties to be prepared for a trial on March 9, 2026. He indicated that he might consolidate the lawsuits for trial. A preliminary conference was originally scheduled for mid-February, but Judge Liman moved the conference up to this week. He told both sides to be prepared to address complaints about pre-trial publicity and lawyer conduct.