- - Blake Lively’s Lawyers Seek to Sanction Justin Baldoni’s Side for 'Deposition Misconduct'

Madison E. Goldberg, Elizabeth RosnerDecember 20, 2025 at 7:46 AM

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Blake Lively; Justin Baldoni -

Blake Lively's lawyers are seeking sanctions on Justin Baldoni's defense for 'deposition misconduct'

Lively's legal team also complained that Baldoni's attorneys asked about their client's sexual history and displayed 'lack of basic decorum' during depositions

Lively and Baldoni's It Ends With Us legal battle is set for a trial in March 2026

Blake Lively's lawyers are seeking sanctions on Justin Baldoni's legal team, alleging 'deposition misconduct.'

The attorneys made the request to U.S. District Court Judge Lewis J. Liman in a Dec. 19 letter reviewed by PEOPLE. Lively's lawyers also complained in a supporting exhibit that attorneys for Baldoni asked questions about her sexual history and displayed a “basic lack of decorum" during depositions.

“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,” writes Lively’s attorney, Michael J. Gottlieb.

Lively’s attorneys said they asked opposing counsel to stop in a Sept. 29. letter citing “inappropriate and unprofessional behavior.”

Lively’s attorneys wrote in September, “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,” according to court documents.

The filing argues that any questioning along those lines is improper and irrelevant to the case.

Lively’s attorney also cited rape shield law, which is designed to protect survivors of sexual abuse or assault from being questioned about their sexual history in court.

In their request for sanctions, the attorneys asked for the court to compel a Baldoni expert witness to be compelled to sit for another deposition since the his lawyers "impeded, delayed, and frustrated the fair examination" the first time, as well as fees incurred for the supplemental deposition.

In May, lawyers for Lively, 38, previously moved to sanction Baldoni, 41. Lively's defense filed a motion seeking sanctions in the form of attorneys’ fees against all plaintiffs, including attorneys for Baldoni, accusing plaintiffs Steve Sarowitz, Jamey Heath, Melissa Nathan, Jennifer Abel and their legal teams teams of, in part, making "frivolous, baseless claims against" Lively.

The Motion claims that “Plaintiffs’ Counsel acted willfully with the intent of harassing Ms. Lively, causing unnecessary delay, and increasing the cost of litigation.”

Referring to a prior suggestion from Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman that he “would take Ms. Lively’s deposition at Madison Square Garden, charge tickets for admission to attend, and livestream the testimony for the world to watch,” Lively’s team condemned the “ghoulish taunt,” adding that “federal courts are venues for the adjudication of justice, not playgrounds for retribution or public relations.”

The latest request for sanctions comes amid the ongoing legal battle between Lively and Baldoni. In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, her It Ends with Us costar and director, as well as his Wayfarer Studios colleagues, who produced the film, his publicist and crisis PR team.

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Lively alleged that she experienced sexual harassment at the hands of Baldoni and was the victim of a retaliatory online smear campaign after she spoke up about it. Baldoni denies Lively's allegations.

PEOPLE has reached out to representatives for Lively and Baldoni for comment. The trial is scheduled to begin in May 18, 2026.

The parties have a court-mandated settlement conference scheduled for Feb. 11.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”