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Blake Lively Cites New Appeals Ruling to Keep Case Alive as Judge Rejects Sanctions Bid

The dueling pretrial maneuvers leave key dismissal requests unresolved with a May 18 trial on the calendar.

Overview

  • Lively’s lawyers filed a March 12 letter to Judge Lewis J. Liman arguing a recent Second Circuit decision counsels against tossing cases for pleading defects after discovery.
  • Her filing urges the court to evaluate the full evidentiary record developed in discovery rather than focus narrowly on the complaint’s wording.
  • Baldoni and other defendants have asked the court to throw out Lively’s claims through multiple requests, including a summary judgment bid that remains undecided.
  • On March 13, Judge Liman denied Lively’s motion to sanction Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman, finding no showing that his prior public comments were substantially likely to prejudice the trial.
  • A court‑ordered mediation on February 11 ended without a settlement, the civil trial is set for May 18 in Manhattan federal court, and Lively’s 2024 harassment and retaliation suit continues as Baldoni denies the allegations and his $400 million countersuit stands dismissed.