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Justin Baldoni responded to Blake Lively’s allegations that his team leaked information about her deposition, Us Weekly can exclusively report.
Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman wrote a letter to the New York judge presiding over Lively’s lawsuit on Wednesday, August 6.
Freedman said Lively had no evidence to back up her claims. “This is not surprising as there is none. [Blake] also fails to explain why any such ‘leak’ could not have originated from [Lively], her husband [Ryan Reynolds], her multiple attorneys, legal or administrative staff from the law firm representing her (whose office she demanded host the deposition), or the catering staff employed thereby who served lunch.”
Lively, 37, believes Baldoni’s team leaked information about who came to the deposition.
“Putting aside the identity of the culprit, the identities of those in attendance for her deposition are not newsworthy because all parties are entitled to attend all depositions,” Freedman argued.
Blake Lively Dave Benett/WireImageFreedman also addressed Lively’s claim that he attached a portion of her deposition transcript to a recent motion, which she said was improper. Baldoni’s lawyer said he filed the transcript under seal. He noted, “Lively has the option of moving to keep the document sealed; although it is puzzling why she seeks to conceal her own testimony in an action in which she is the plaintiff.
He added, “Contrary to [Lively’s] contention, [Baldoni’s team] did not ‘hope to make [her] defend the continued sealing of the transcript so that they can advance a false narrative that [she] is afraid of her deposition testimony becoming public.’ Ms. Lively will either move to permanently seal her transcript or she will not. The choice is hers.”
A spokesperson for Lively tells Us, “We are very pleased with the outcome of her deposition, and now look forward to deposing Justin Baldoni and each of the codefendants in short order. Deposition testimony is confidential for good reason – it’s evidence in a legal proceeding and is subject to objections and evidentiary rules. Juries aren’t just handed deposition transcripts to read at home, and instead they listen to testimony that is presented at trial under a judge’s supervision.”
Justin Baldoni's Lawyer Reacts to Blake Lively's Gag Order Request
As Us previously reported, Lively was deposed on July 31 in New York City. A source told Us that Baldoni, 41, was present in the room while the Gossip Girl alum was questioned.
On Monday, August 4, Lively’s team filed a letter telling the judge it “appears” Baldoni’s team “immediately leaked details from the deposition to the tabloid media.”
Her lawyer wrote, “This began by selectively sharing from a ‘source in the room’ that [Baldoni] was in attendance, apparently to advance a storyline that the deposition was a face-to-face showdown between [Baldoni] and [Lively].”
Lively said the following day there were more leaks revealing what she wore and who accompanied her. “The narrative created was that [Lively] needed a large contingent of people with her to testify, while misleadingly suggesting that only [Baldoni] and [Freedman] were present for the deposition on their side.”
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC ImagesThe actress said Baldoni had several other members of his team present along with eight lawyers, two of whom questioned her.
In addition, Lively demanded Baldoni and his team not be allowed to file the 292-page transcript of her deposition that she claimed had not “been reviewed, corrected or finalized.”
She said Baldoni’s team tried to use a portion of her transcript as part of a recent motion. Lively claimed that Baldoni’s recent letter to the court “should be seen for what they are: a manufactured excuse to force the transcript into the public domain as fodder for the Wayfarer Defendants’ media campaign.”
Blake Lively Attempts to Obtain Justin Baldoni’s Legal Team’s Emails
Lively said she pursued this lawsuit with the full intention and “desire to have her testimony heard in a legal process, governed by the” court rules, “which publicly filing this rough draft transcript in this manner substantially undermines.”
The actress said to suggest she doesn’t want her testimony out there, “is part of an ongoing attack that Mr. Freedman has been advancing to undermine” her credibility and taint the jury pool.
Blake Lively's Team Claims Justin Baldoni Wants to Release Her Deposition
As Us previously reported, Lively is suing Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment and retaliation. She claims Baldoni was inappropriate on the set of It Ends With Us, which he directed and costarred in.
She claimed he hired a crisis PR team to take her down in the media after she complained about his on-set behavior.
Baldoni denied all allegations of wrongdoing or that Lively experienced sexual harassment on set. He accused her — and her husband — of using their power to seize control of the film after production wrapped.
He claimed Lively iced him out of the project and refused to allow the studio to release his version of the film. Lively denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
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