Blake Lively Secures A Small Win Amid Ongoing Legal Battle Against Justin Baldoni
The information to be shared with attorneys only includes trade secrets such as business and marketing plans and ideas for upcoming creative projects, security measures and medical information.
Blake Lively secured a small win amid her ongoing legal case of a sexual harassment lawsuit against It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni. On Thursday, a federal judge granted the actress’ request to restrict the revelation of ‘sensitive information’. Judge Lewis Liman, in his ruling, allowed the discovery of materials to “attorneys’ eyes only", ensuring the prevention of potential misuse of the information. The new development comes after Lively’s attorney warned that some data could be leaked if shared with the clients of other attorneys.
According to Variety, the information to be shared with attorneys only includes trade secrets such as business and marketing plans, and ideas for upcoming creative projects, security measures, medical information and “highly personal and intimate information about third parties." The judge wrote, “These cases involve both business competitors and allegations of sexual harm. Discovery will necessarily include confidential and sensitive business and personal information. The risk of disclosure is great."
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The judge, however, noted that even if sensitive information is not shared with the media, it is highly likely that the information could easily circulate by “gossip and innuendo to those in the tight artistic community in a position to do harm to one or the other." Baldoni’s attorneys agreed on the idea of protecting the flow of information but they were not in favour of the restriction preventing attorneys from sharing certain details with their clients.
Arguing, they pointed out the complications that can be caused due to the restriction of information from being shared. They argued it will result in repeated disputes over confidentiality designations.
“The Moving Parties have shown good cause for a limited AEO provision and have shown that entering such a provision now is critical to the just and speedy (if not necessarily “inexpensive") determination of the case," the judge further wrote.
Last Thursday, Meryl Governski, a lawyer for Lively, asked a federal judge to impose strict rules to prevent anyone associated with Justin Baldoni from getting personal or intimate information about her or other celebrities while it proceeds towards trial.
Last week, during a hearing, the judge also claimed that the case will fundamentally involve the disclosure of sensitive and damaging information about both parties given the involvement of high-profile names. He said, “If you sue a high-profile person in this industry, it’s going to get picked up by the press. The stuff that’s highly relevant is going to end up being disclosed."
Notably, Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni, his production company and others in late December for sexual harassment and sought unspecified damages.
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