Justin Baldoni.
Janet Mayer/startraksphoto.comJustin BaldoniLegal battle with Blake Lively It seems like it's just getting started.
after live, 37, File a lawsuit against her And it ends with us The actor and director of the Sexual Harassment Department, a high-profile lawyer shares his perspective on what could happen next.
“He should lawyer up,” lawyer Ron ZambranoIt is not affiliated with the case exclusively Us Weekly. “He must then respond to (the Department of Civil Rights’) requests to refute the complaint in whatever manner his team deems best.” (Baldoni, 40, is currently represented by a lawyer Brian Friedman.)
According to Zambrano, the rules in a DCR investigation “aren't as high-stakes as they are in civil litigation, where there are no real consequences for evasiveness as there are in civil court.”
Updated 12/21/24 at 10:30 a.m. ET: TMZ reported in December that Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni for sexual harassment and “extreme emotional distress.” His attorney, Brian Friedman, said in a statement to Us Weekly that the allegations are “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally indecent.” We reached out to Lively's rep for comment at the time. The original story (…)
“But if he's too evasive, the full force of the (Civil Rights Administration) might turn its wrath on Baldoni, and he doesn't want that either,” Zambrano — who also weighed in on Lively's case. Possible next steps with we – Added. “But there may be a real motive to keep her out of civil court.”
In the lawsuit filed on Friday, December 20, he obtained it Us WeeklyLively accused Baldoni of waging a “social manipulation” campaign against her To “destroy” her reputation.
Lively also accused Baldoni of exposing her body during filming and alleged that Baldoni improvised an unwanted kiss and discussed his sexuality.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively in It Ends with Us.
Courtesy of Sony PicturesBaldoni's lawyer called Lively's accusations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally indecent” in a statement to weAlleging that the actress filed the lawsuit to “repair her negative reputation” and “reframe the narrative” around the film's production.
While it is too early to say whether the lawsuit will eventually go to trial, Zambrano expects that the Department of Civil Rights may order both parties to mediate.
“Whether an actual settlement is reached is up to the parties,” Zambrano explained. we. “The requirement is only to participate in mediation. It is always in the defendant's interest to resolve the case.”
It seems Justin Baldoni has nothing but positive things to say about his It Ends with Us star Blake Lively, as reports of an on-set rift continue to spread online. The drama officially hits theaters in August 2024, and Baldoni, who directs and stars opposite Lively, has heaped praise on his on-screen partner. “Black (…)
Since filing the lawsuit, Lively has done just that Received support from And it ends with us Author of the book Colleen Hoover And so is her The brotherhood of the traveling pants Stars including america Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel.
“As friends and sisters of Blake for over twenty years, we stand in solidarity with her as she fights back against the reported campaign being waged to destroy her reputation,” the trio shared in a video. Joint statement. “Throughout filming And it ends with usWe've seen her summon the courage to demand a safe workplace for herself and her colleagues on set, and we're horrified to read evidence of a deliberate and retaliatory effort that followed to discredit her voice.
In a statement to New York Times Regarding her lawsuit, Lively said: “I hope my legal action will help pull back the curtain on these evil retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak out about misconduct and help protect others who may be targeted.”
