Blake Lively Drops Emotional Distress Claims in Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni

Actress Blake Lively is at the center of a widely publicized legal battle with director Justin Baldoni. The dispute, which began with serious allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and defamation, has taken a new turn as Lively moves to withdraw her claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. This lawsuit has captured public attention not only because of the parties involved but also due to the complex legal maneuvers surrounding discovery and evidence disclosure.

Lively initially filed her lawsuit in federal court in December, following Baldoni’s own $400 million defamation suit against her and her husband Ryan Reynolds. The core of Lively’s claims included accusations that Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath subjected her to harassment and engaged in a smear campaign after she spoke out. Meanwhile, Baldoni contends that Lively attempted extortion and defamed him, adding to the legal back-and-forth.

Withdrawal of Emotional Distress Claims by Blake Lively

In a recent court filing, it was revealed that Blake Lively is attempting to drop her emotional distress claims against Justin Baldoni. These claims alleged that she suffered “severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, embarrassment, belittlement, frustration, and mental anguish” due to Baldoni’s actions.

The filing, submitted by Baldoni’s attorneys, indicates that Lively’s legal team notified them of the decision to withdraw the intentional infliction of emotional distress (IED) and negligent infliction of emotional distress (NIED) claims. However, Lively has refused to dismiss the claims “with prejudice,” meaning she wants to reserve the right to potentially refile them later. Baldoni’s team opposes this, stating that she cannot both avoid disclosing medical records and keep the option to bring the claims back at a later date.

The Role of Medical Records in Blake Lively’s Legal Case

A key point of contention in this ongoing legal battle is the access to Blake Lively’s medical records. As part of the discovery process in lawsuits involving claims of emotional injury, it is standard procedure for the defense to request medical documentation to assess the validity and scope of the alleged distress.

Baldoni’s attorneys are pushing for Lively to sign a HIPAA release that would grant access to therapy notes and psychiatric records. The court will have to decide whether to compel her to disclose this sensitive information or accept the withdrawal of the claims, either temporarily or permanently.

Lively’s lawyers have dismissed these legal filings as a “press stunt,” emphasizing that the emotional distress allegations remain part of other claims in the lawsuit, such as sexual harassment and retaliation, which carry significant compensatory damages.

The legal documents underscore that by claiming emotional and physical injuries, Blake Lively has effectively waived doctor-patient privilege and placed her mental and physical condition under scrutiny.

What’s Next in the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Court Battle?

The case continues to evolve rapidly, now involving six related lawsuits, including disputes between Baldoni and his former publicist Stephanie Jones, who allegedly leaked text messages that intensified the conflict.

The Southern District of New York’s U.S. District Court, presided over by Judge Liman, will determine the next steps. Whether Lively will be required to produce her medical records or if the emotional distress claims will be dismissed with prejudice remains to be seen.

This case highlights the complexities involved in high-profile lawsuits where emotional distress and defamation claims intertwine with sensitive medical information and public scrutiny.