Justin Baldoni's Attorney on Blake Lively Lawsuit: What's Next?

Legal Strategy and PR Spin

• 🎯 Bryan Freedman theorizes Blake Lively's strategy was to file a Civil Rights Division complaint to gain protection against defamation claims and leak it to the New York Times to control the narrative.
• 💡 The goal was to shift public perception from her being "tone-deaf on domestic violence" and "blowing up her movie" to being the victim.
• 🎭 Freedman suggests Lively couldn't handle negative press based on her own actions and resorted to blaming others, escalating the situation.

Remaining Legal Claims

• ⚖️ While civil extortion, defamation, and false light claims were dismissed, four claims remain against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.
• 🚀 These include intentional interference with contract, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage.
• 🤝 Additionally, a claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing exists against Blake Lively.
• 🗺️ The judge has provided a roadmap for repleading these claims, which are currently being worked on.

Deposition and Discovery

• 🗓️ A deposition for Blake Lively has been noticed for June, with the expectation it will occur before the close of discovery on August 15th.
• 🎤 Ryan Reynolds will also likely be deposed, though the judge may seek to limit discovery on collateral issues.
• 🔍 Freedman emphasizes that uncovering the truth through discovery, particularly regarding the absence of sexual harassment, is paramount.

Impact on Justin Baldoni

• 😥 Justin Baldoni feels a sense of injustice and a lack of understanding regarding the legal outcomes, particularly the dismissal of defamation claims.
• 📰 He believes information was "secreted" and used to create a "hit piece" in the New York Times, which was devastating and led to widespread negative public perception.
• 📉 Baldoni has experienced career repercussions, including lost jobs, and emotional distress, but seeks a chance in court to tell his story.
• 🚫 Unlike Lively, Baldoni is not engaging in "victory tours" and is focused on presenting facts and evidence.