A federal judge has ruled on Blake Lively’s request for a protective order in her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni, granting partial restrictions while rejecting broader confidentiality measures sought by the actress.
Judge Lewis J. Liman determined that only specific materials meeting a high threshold of sensitivity, such as those posing a significant business, financial, or privacy risk, would qualify for an “Attorneys’ Eyes Only” (AEO) designation. The ruling comes as both parties continue discovery in the case related to their professional dealings on It Ends With Us.
Court Limits Scope of Confidentiality
Lively had requested heightened protections over court documents, arguing that without them, private information could leak to the press or spread via industry gossip, potentially harming reputations and legal strategies.
Judge Liman acknowledged the risk but found Blake Lively’s proposed order too broad. He ruled that while confidential information should not be publicly disclosed, its circulation within Hollywood’s tight-knit community does not necessarily justify extreme legal safeguards.
“Where confidential information is not disclosed to the media, it may still spread through gossip and innuendo to those in a position to harm either party, but in ways that may not be immediately detectable,” the ruling stated.
Statements from Both Sides
Following the ruling, representatives for both Lively and Baldoni responded.
Lively’s spokesperson said the decision affirms the need for discovery protections: “The Court rejected the Wayfarer Parties’ objections and upheld necessary safeguards to ensure witness security and prevent intimidation. With these protections in place, Ms. Lively will move forward in securing evidence to support her claims.”
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, countered that Lively had overreached in her demands.
“We fully agree with the Court’s decision to provide limited protections for categories such as private mental health records and security measures, none of which were ever of interest to us,” Freedman said. “However, Ms. Lively’s overly broad demand for sweeping document restrictions over a 2.5-year period was rightly rejected.”
Legal Battle Continues
The dispute stems from conflicts between Lively and Baldoni over It Ends With Us, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel. Their legal teams have been locked in arguments over access to records, with Lively’s attorneys pushing for strict confidentiality and Baldoni’s side advocating transparency in evidence-sharing.
Blake Lively’s team argues that due to the lawsuit’s high-profile nature, sensitive details could be misused or weaponized in the court of public opinion. Baldoni’s lawyers, however, assert that she is attempting to suppress critical information that could undermine her claims.
The case remains in the discovery phase, with additional rulings expected as both sides continue to battle over document disclosures and the scope of evidence allowed in court.
