| Blake Lively
Baldoni Trial Canceled by
Settlement with No Details No
Daubert Hearing
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE,
May 4 – In the Blake Lively v.
Justin Baldoni lawsuits, a
hearing was held on February 3
before U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New
York Judge Lewis J. Liman.
Inner City Press was there
with live coverage, thread
On September 16
the Wayfarer Parties filed
their 12 page "privilege log"
of documents they say should
not be subject to discovery,
on Patreon here
On May 4, in the
run up to trial, the lawsuit
was abruptly settled, with no
details. With nothing yet
filed in the court docket, the
parties said in a statement,
"We acknowledge the process
presented challenges, and
recognize concerns raised by
Ms. Lively deserved to be
heard. We remain firmly
committed to workplaces free
of improprieties and
unproductive environments. It
is our sincere hope that this
brings closure and allows all
involved to move forward
constructively and in peace,
including a respectful
environment online." With no
details?
On December 9,
"Oral argument regarding the
Wayfarer Parties' Motion for
Judgment on the Pleadings and
Motion for Summary Judgment
and Lively's Motion for
Spoliation Sanctions is
scheduled for January 22,
2026. Trial in the Lively
Action is adjourned to May 18,
2026. Also, case (and Abel
case) referred to Magistrate
Judge Sarah L. Cave for
settlement purposes.
On January 22
Inner City Press live tweeted
the arguments here,
afterward asking about the
Heath into the trailer issue.
More on Jan 22 on
X for Subscriber here,
Substack here
Jump cut to April
24 when Judge Liman docketed
the questions he intends to
ask prospective jurors
starting May 18, including "
Have you read,
heard, or seen anything about
the book or movie It Ends With
Us (including about filming
the movie or the promotional
tour), whether in interviews,
articles, or online? 14. Have
you read, heard, or seen
anything about this case, or
anything related to the claims
brought by Blake Lively
against Wayfarer Studios,
Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath,
It Ends With Us Movie LLC,
Steve Sarowitz, Melissa
Nathan, Jennifer Abel, or The
Agency Group PR? 15. Is there
anything about the subject
matter or nature of the
allegations made by Ms. Lively
– which include sexual
harassment, discrimination,
and retaliation – that would
make it difficult for you to
consider the evidence in this
case with an open mind to both
sides?" - full questionnaire
on Patreon here.
On April 28 there was a
long hearing which
Inner City Press live
tweeted. Judge Liman said
he wants to hear
more from the
experts, and
suggested a
May 5 Daubert
hearing.
The AI study of
TikTok will be
on the agenda...
April 28
analysis on Substack here
On
April 29, the
parties wrote
in that May 5
is not
possible for
the Daubert
hearing, and
that "the
parties
respectfully
propose
scheduling the
hearing on
either
Thursday, May
7 or Friday,
May 8, 2026,
if the Court
has
availability
on either
date.
Defendants
note that Ms.
Alexander is
presently out
of the country
and will
remain so
through May 8,
but would be
available to
testify
remotely on
May 8 (though
not May 7)
between 9AM
and 1PM ET.
Defendants
respectfully
request, if
the Court is
available at
that time and
date, that Ms.
Alexander be
permitted to
appear
remotely or by
telephone.
Plaintiff
objects to the
use of remote
testimony for
only
Defendants’
Hearing
Expert, and
respectfully
submits that
if the Court
finds
testimony by
Ms. Alexander
helpful to
resolution of
the pending
Daubert
motions, that
testimony
should be
taken in
person at the
same time as
the other
Hearing
Experts to
avoid
prejudice."
Back on February
6, a new book "Hollywood
Hearsay," ranging from the CRD
complaint in California to Jed
Wallace's new case in Texas,
comparing SDNY defamation
cases, including Sarah Palin v
NYT. Book here,
Audiobook here
More on X for
Subscribers here
and Substack here,
Buy Me a Coffee here
***
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