Justin Baldoni’s legal team is pushing back against Blake Lively’s request to hold her upcoming deposition on her own terms, accusing the actress of using her “celebrity status” to gain an unfair advantage. The deposition, scheduled for Thursday in New York City, is part of an ongoing legal battle tied to the film It Ends With Us and includes serious allegations of sexual harassment and defamation.
Justin Baldoni’s lawyer calls out Blake Lively amid deposition
Justin Baldoni’s attorney responds as Blake Lively makes an unexpected demand for her deposition.
According to a new filing obtained by TMZ, Justin Baldoni’s attorneys argue that Blake Lively is trying to control the setup of her deposition simply because she is famous. The request in question? She wants the proceedings to take place at her own attorney’s office in New York City, claiming she is worried about paparazzi camped outside Baldoni’s lawyer’s building.
But Baldoni’s team says there’s no real proof she’d be mobbed and that the location change would give Lively an upper hand. After all, both legal offices are located just a mile apart.
Taking direct aim, Baldoni’s team stated, “Although Lively’s foot-stomping and use of her celebrity status may have enabled her to seize control of the film, which is the crux of this dispute, her counsel’s tantrum has no place in this Court.” They also pointed out that being outside their own office would limit their ability to step away and discuss legal strategy during the deposition. It is a basic right in any deposition setting.
Blake Lively is suing Justin Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment and retaliation related to their work on It Ends With Us. She also alleges that Baldoni’s publicity team launched a smear campaign against her. In response, Baldoni countersued both Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion, though that case was dismissed by a judge last month.
In a statement to People, Lively’s rep said, “Ms. Lively is looking forward to her deposition next week, and it should follow the same rules as every other witness in this case. Justin Baldoni’s lawyer has tried to make this matter a public spectacle at every turn, even proposing to sell tickets to a televised deposition at Madison Square Garden.”
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon.net.
