Justin Baldoni & Blake Lively Set for March 2026 Trial As Judge weighs Merging ‘It Ends With Us’ Lawsuits

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Justin Baldoni

The legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over their film “It Ends With Us” is all set to go to trial in March 2026, as decided by a New York judge.

Lively’s legal team accuses Baldoni’s attorney of trying to influence jurors by sharing selective documents on a website. She is also pushing for a deposition in Texas involving a crisis management expert.

 

Justin Baldoni & Blake Lively Set for March 2026 Trial As Judge weighs Merging ‘It Ends With Us’ Lawsuits

New York federal judge Lewis J. Liman has reportedly ordered both sides to get ready for a trial set to begin on March 9, 2026.

Late Monday, he rescheduled an initial conference from mid-February to the upcoming week and instructed attorneys to address issues related to pretrial publicity and their conduct.

As per the latest Hollywood News, the judge took action after Lively’s legal team alleged in a filing on Monday that Baldoni’s attorney was attempting to sway potential jurors in the ongoing lawsuits between the two actors.

Lively’s attorneys claimed that Baldoni’s lawyer was attempting to undermine her career and sway New York jurors by publishing selective documents and communications on a website. They also stated, “The relentless stream of defamatory and extrajudicial media statements must stop.”

In his statement, Freedman addressed Monday’s claims, pointing out that “the irony is not lost on anyone that Ms. Lively is so afraid of the truth that she has sought to silence it.”

 

What the Attorney Has to Say?

The attorney further stated, “We have complete respect for the court, but we won’t allow ourselves to be intimidated by anyone suggesting that we can’t defend our clients with clear, unaltered facts. What we want is for the public to see the actual text messages that contradict her accusations, video evidence that shows there was no sexual harassment, and all the other strong evidence disproving any false claims.”

As per a communication held to the judge on Thursday, Kevin Fritz, representing Baldoni, accused Lively of initiating a publicity campaign that turned Baldoni and the other defendants into “targets of public mockery and contempt.”

Now, as per a separate filing in Texas, which could precede another lawsuit, Lively is requesting a court order to compel a deposition from Jed Wallace, a crisis management expert she accuses of orchestrating social media manipulation related to the film. She claims that posts on Reddit and TikTok were instrumental in shifting public opinion against her.

According to the filing, as reported by AP, it is alleged that “He orchestrated a nationwide digital campaign, including in New York and Los Angeles, to generate, circulate, modify, and promote harmful content that seemed legitimate on social media and online chat platforms.”

In late December, Lively initiated a lawsuit in New York against Baldoni, his production company, and several others, claiming sexual harassment and damage to her reputation. She is seeking unspecified damages.

Baldoni, meanwhile, filed his own lawsuit earlier this month, accusing Lively and her husband, “Deadpool” star Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion and is seeking at least $400 million in damages. On Monday, the judge indicated that the lawsuits will likely be combined for trial.

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