LOS ANGELES: Actress Blake Lively has launched a fresh legal challenge against filmmaker and co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing his legal team of inappropriate conduct during depositions in their ongoing lawsuit linked to the film It Ends With Us, according to court filings cited by People magazine.
Lively’s lawyer has asked a US federal judge to impose sanctions on Baldoni’s attorneys, alleging they asked crude and irrelevant questions about her private life and repeatedly disrupted the legal process.
Improper conduct
In a letter filed with US District Judge Lewis J. Liman, Lively’s lawyer, Michael J. Gottlieb, accused Baldoni’s legal team of a “basic lack of decorum” during depositions.
“Throughout discovery, multiple defence counsel insisted on making speaking objections, often in depositions they were not defending, and consuming time on the record to demean and orate,” Gottlieb wrote.
According to the filing, Lively’s legal team had already asked Baldoni’s lawyers in September to stop questioning her about her romantic and sexual history. They say those questions continued regardless.
Call for sanctions
Lively’s lawyers are seeking sanctions against Baldoni’s legal team for what they describe as obstruction of depositions.
They have asked the court to order payment of legal fees and other costs incurred by the actress.
The filing argues that questions about Lively’s sexual or romantic past are irrelevant to her claims of harassment and retaliation and should be barred under US rape shield laws, which limit the use of such history in cases involving sexual misconduct.
The dispute reportedly intensified during the deposition of defence expert Nicole Alexander, where Lively’s lawyers claim Baldoni’s team slowed proceedings through repeated objections and commentary.
Background of the lawsuit
The legal battle stems from Lively’s lawsuit filed in December 2024 against Baldoni, her It Ends With Us director and co-star, and several associates.
She alleges sexual harassment and a retaliation campaign after she raised concerns during the film’s production. Lively is seeking $160 million in damages.
Baldoni, who denies all allegations, countersued Lively in January for $400 million. That countersuit was dismissed by Judge Liman in June.
Baldoni’s legal team has also filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that Lively’s claims amount to minor grievances rather than actionable misconduct.
Lively’s lawyers dispute this, saying the case reflects an attempt to avoid accountability for creating a hostile work environment.
Settlement talks
The court has scheduled a mandatory settlement conference for February 11, 2026, in New York, according to a December 18 order from US Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave. Both Lively and Baldoni are required to attend in person.
Judge Cave directed Lively’s side to submit a settlement demand by January 28, with Baldoni’s response due by February 4.
“At the settlement conference, counsel for each side should expect to make a succinct presentation,” the order states, adding that the court will later meet privately with each party to discuss costs and risks of continuing the case.
The trial has been postponed to May 18, 2026, from an earlier March date.
