A federal judge trimmed the bulk of Blake Lively’s lawsuit against co‑star Justin Baldoni, ruling that 10 of the 13 claims could not proceed. The judge allowed three allegations to move forward to a May trial — retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract.
In a post on Instagram, Lively framed the case as a stand against covert digital attacks, stressing that the core issues will be heard by a jury next month rather than becoming mere celebrity drama.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman rejected federal harassment claims on the basis that Lively is an independent contractor and the production happened in New Jersey, leaving room for the remaining retaliation and contract claims to advance.
The court found a plausible basis for her retaliation claim, meaning a jury will decide whether she faced unlawful consequences for speaking out about working conditions and safety concerns.
WME, Lively’s agency, issued a statement of support, praising her for helping expose harmful covert campaigns that target people online and affect the reputations of colleagues who cannot defend themselves.
A magistrate judge directed a conference call to revisit settlement positions after a February session that did not resolve the dispute.
Attorney Sigrid McCawley signaled that the case has already achieved a measure of accountability and that Lively plans to testify when the trial arrives in May.
Source: Original article
