A judge has ruled against Blake Lively’s request to obtain Justin Baldoni’s phone records, citing concerns over privacy and the broad nature of her subpoena. 

This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between the two actors, 

which stems from allegations that Baldoni led a smear campaign against Lively following her accusations of sexual harassment on the set of It Ends With Us.

Court Blocks Lively’s Subpoena for Baldoni’s Phone Records

Blake Lively and her legal team had issued subpoenas for the phone records of Baldoni and several others, 

arguing that they would provide evidence of an orchestrated effort to damage her reputation. 

However, Judge Lewis Liman determined that the request was too broad and raised significant privacy concerns.

In his ruling, the judge acknowledged that while Lively’s team had narrowed their request to exclude the content of calls and messages, the remaining details could still reveal sensitive information. The court noted that phone records might expose personal interactions, including communications with doctors, therapists, or close acquaintances.

Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, hailed the ruling as a victory, stating, “The Court put a stop to Ms. Lively’s egregious attempt to invade our clients’ privacy. This is a big win. No matter how the Lively Parties may try to spin this decision, the Court saw their efforts for what they really are: a desperate fishing expedition.”

Despite this setback for Lively, the judge did leave room for her legal team to seek similar information from other individuals involved in the alleged smear campaign—provided that the requests were more specific.

Why Was Lively’s Request Denied?

Judge Liman outlined the reasoning behind his decision, explaining that while Lively may believe that the phone records could expose evidence of a coordinated effort against her, the broad nature of the subpoena could unjustly compromise the privacy of those involved.

“Even assuming additional individuals participated in the alleged campaign, the hope that discovery will turn up information does not justify the broad scope of the subpoenas,” the judge stated.

Although her request for Baldoni’s records was denied, Lively still has the option to refile subpoenas targeting specific communications from other parties in a more precise manner.

Lively’s Legal Team Pushes Back

In response to the ruling, Lively’s representatives expressed frustration and questioned why Baldoni’s team was resisting the disclosure of phone records. A spokesperson for the actress responded, “What is Bryan Freedman hiding? Instead of getting these records from the phone carriers as we originally requested, the judge ruled that if we submit more specific requests, we can still obtain the records we need.”

Lively’s team has since confirmed that they are preparing new subpoenas aimed at other individuals who may have been involved in the alleged effort to tarnish her reputation.

The Origins of the Legal Battle

The dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni escalated when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of It Ends With Us. After publicly making the accusations, she alleged that Baldoni retaliated by orchestrating a smear campaign to damage her credibility and career.

As a result, Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, took legal action, first subpoenaing the phone records on February 13 in an effort to gather evidence. However, Baldoni has firmly denied the claims, countering with a lawsuit in January. In his suit, Baldoni argued that Lively’s allegations were false and designed to rehabilitate her own public image. His legal team has maintained that there is no evidence to support the claim that he actively worked to undermine her reputation.

What Comes Next?

Despite the judge’s rejection of her initial subpoena, Lively is not backing down. With her legal team now focusing on filing more targeted subpoenas, the case is expected to continue unfolding in the coming weeks.

As both sides remain locked in a legal dispute, this high-profile battle has garnered widespread attention, leaving many eager to see what the next legal maneuver will be in this contentious fight between two well-known Hollywood figures.

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