In a dramatic escalation of their ongoing legal dispute, actress Blake Lively has formally requested a federal judge to impose sanctions on Justin Baldoni's legal team. Her lawyers allege serious professional misconduct during the discovery phase of the case.
Allegations of Inappropriate Conduct and 'Lack of Decorum'
According to a letter filed on December 19 with U.S. District Court Judge Lewis J. Liman, Lively's attorneys are seeking judicial intervention. They accuse Baldoni's counsel of repeatedly crossing ethical boundaries during depositions. The core complaint centres on questions posed to Lively about her sexual and romantic history, which her team argues are entirely irrelevant to the lawsuit.
In a supporting exhibit, Lively's lawyer, Michael J. Gottlieb, wrote that the opposing counsel demonstrated a 'basic lack of decorum'. The alleged misconduct includes making frequent speaking objections, interrupting proceedings, and, at times, demeaning witnesses on the official record. 'Throughout discovery, multiple defense counsel insisted on making speaking objections, often in depositions they were not defending, and consuming time on the record to demean and orate,' Gottlieb stated.
Legal Team Draws a Firm Line on Personal Questions
The dispute over the line of questioning is not new. In a September 29 letter cited in the court documents, Lively's lawyers had already objected to what they termed 'inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour'. They explicitly warned against inquiries into Lively's personal life. 'Ms. Lively’s sexual and/or romantic history has no bearing on the matters at issue in this case and we will not tolerate such examination,' the attorneys wrote.
The filing argues that such questioning is improper and is barred by legal principles akin to rape shield laws, which are designed to protect individuals from intrusive inquiries into their personal history in legal proceedings.
Wider Case and Pending Trial
Beyond seeking sanctions, Lively's legal team has asked the court to order a supplemental deposition for one of Baldoni's expert witnesses. They claim the initial session was compromised because Baldoni's attorneys 'impeded, delayed, and frustrated the fair examination'. The motion also seeks reimbursement for the fees associated with this new deposition.
This legal battle stems from a lawsuit Lively filed in December of last year, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Baldoni subsequently filed a $400 million lawsuit in January, which was thrown out of court in June. The case is currently scheduled to go to trial on May 18, 2026.
All parties involved have denied the allegations against them. Representatives for both Lively and Baldoni have been contacted for comment regarding the latest filings.
