Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni’s refusal to solve lawsuits shows the focus on ‘clearing their names’: expert

Justin Baldoni’s refusal and Blake Lively to go to mediation for their legal dispute could show why the stars of “ends with us” are really fighting.

Baldoni and animated “You can go to the trial” If one of them does not agree with an apology and will be retracted claims, a legal expert told Fox News Digital.

“Mediation is a good idea when the parties want to explore the agreement,” said former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani. “Here, Lively and Baldoni do not like them, they are testing the case in the media and are not close to the agreement.

“In fact, this case is more about sending a message and eliminating their names in Hollywood to get money from the other side,” added the founder of the litigating lawyers on the west coast. “Without one of them accepting an apology and a retraction, which will not happen, this case can reach the trial.”

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni reject mediation, do not show signs of settlement demand

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively focus on cleaning their names instead of establishing themselves, a legal expert told Fox News Digital. (Getty images)

The legal teams for Lively and Baldoni told Judge Lewis Liman that “the liquidation discussions would be premature” in a joint letter presented on Thursday in the Court and obtained by Fox News Digital. The letter also pointed out that “the parties agree that mediation and discovery protocols are inappropriate for this case.”

The federal judge agreed with the stars “ends with us” and granted the order.

The decision of Lively and Reynolds to “advance” with their demand “at full speed”, left Public Relations expert Adrienne Uthe “surprised.”

“They need to settle, point. Finish the bloodbath. Finish the drama,” said Kronus Communications founder Fox News Digital. “Unless there is a hidden bomb in depth, deep in the demand or potentially that it is not even shared publicly, it will not end well for them, which is more than obvious at this time.”

“In fact, this case is more about sending a message and cleaning their names in Hollywood than taking money from the other side.”

– Neile Rahmani

Justin Baldoni filming “Itmines with us” May 25, 2023 in Hoboken, NJ (Gotham/GC images)

However, not establishing will affect Baldoni “very differently.”

“For Justin Baldoni, it will be one of the best stressful things that have happened in his life,” Uthe explained. “He mentioned that last year was an excellent year for him monetarily, but it was very emotional, and we can all see why.

“Not establishing ourselves will allow us to see even more facts for ourselves and promote our existing consensus (depending on social networks) that he is entitled to this,” he added. “It may not be perfect, but it is certainly not the monster that the animated team is trying to portray it. Do not establish it will begin the trip of another hero in the ‘male corner’, but this time, for Mr. Baldoni, I see a race even more fruitful for him. “

Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni: Everything to know

Justin Baldoni sue Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds for $ 400 million. (Getty images)

The movement comes as Lively Legal Team The search for additional evidence began to show that Baldoni led a smear campaign against the actress. His lawyers cited telephone records of Baldoni and others involved in the confrontation of the court on the alleged plot to ruin the actress’s reputation.

“Mrs. Lively has started a discovery that will expose people, tactics and methods that have worked to” destroy “and” bury “their reputation and their family during the past year,” said Lively’s lawyers, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, to Fox News Digital Digital in a statement.

Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman criticized the movement as a “fishing expedition.”

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Legal experts explained that requesting telephone records “is not uncommon” and can be “used to substantially refute a claim.”

“While part of the information obtained from telephone companies, it can be useful to detailed with whom the defendants spoke and sent text messages, and for how long, any benefit obtained from the records is likely to be minimal to prove the case De Lively, “Ethan Kranoo, a partner at Reavis Page Jump LLP, told Fox News Digital.

“Simply because a defendant spoke or sent a text message to an individual, which the records can show, does not imply them in an illegal action, and Lively has already obtained text messages from some of the relevant parts, which constitute more direct evidence What telephone records “.

Blake Lively demanded Justin Baldoni for his sexual harassment, said it happened on the set of “ends with us.” (Images José Pérez/Bauer-Griffin/GC)

In December, Detailed allegations animated sexual harassmentretaliation, intentional affliction of emotional anguish, negligence and more against Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath in a complaint filed for the first time before the California civil rights department and then in the Federal Court.

Baldoni, in his own demand filed in January, insisted that Lively had “falsely” accused him in an attempt to repair his reputation after the consequences of the film’s press tour after the actress took control of the film . Baldoni Legal Team He said that Lively had no evidence of a deliberate smear campaign and, on the other hand, worked to repair his reputation accusing the actor and others of sexual harassment.

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively starred in the film based on Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name. (Images José Pérez/Bauer-Griffin/GC)

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Since the case of Lively depends on the existence of the Smear campaign supposedly initiated by BaldoniRahmani expects the judge to order telephone records.

Look: Justin Baldoni’s lawyers have done a masterful job by changing the narrative ‘in the case of Blake Lively: expert

“Lively is trying to demonstrate that Baldoni and his public relations team knew that sexual harassment occurred, but tried to blame the victim and change the narration of Lively inventing because he wanted creative control,” Rahmani said. “In Hollywood and in the courtroom, the best defense is often a good offensive, and Lively’s lawyers want to access communications between Baldoni and their publicists to establish their knowledge of harassment and spots campaign.

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“The citations like this are common in litigation,” said the legal expert. “The parties themselves have to produce something relevant to the demand. And even third parties can be forced to deliver text messages and relevant emails. If the scope of the citation is too broad, in terms of time, people or content, the lawyers It will object or present the motions to cancel or for a protection order, and a judge can limit the citation.

“Because the case of Lively depends on the existence of the smear campaign, and because it would be directly relevant to their damages if it is true, I hope that the judge orders that Baldoni and his publicists produce communications between them related to Lively” .

Fox News Digital has communicated with the representatives of Lively and Baldoni to comment.