Justin Baldoni has no plans of backing out of his upcoming trial with Blake Lively. According to a report on People, Justin plans to testify, even after being dismissed as a defendant. In a filing submitted on April 9 People reports that Baldoni’s legal team stated that he, along with producer Jamey Heath and crisis publicist Melissa Nathan, will provide in-person testimony.
Justin Baldoni to testify in trial
In a statement to the publication, Baldoni’s lawyers wrote, “Defendants will be serving an amended witness list reflecting that dismissed defendants Justin Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath and crisis publicist Melissa Nathan will appear to provide in-person testimony as their testimony remains relevant to refute Plaintiff’s false allegations of a smear campaign.”As per the report, previously named defendants, including Steve Sarowitz and Jennifer Abel, “will not appear in person but by deposition.”His attorneys also pushed back on Lively’s request for immediate clarity on which witnesses would testify live versus via deposition.
Blake Lively ‘looking forward’ to testifying
Meanwhile, Blake Lively, through her attorney Sigrid McCawley, has also confirmed her presence, saying she “looks forward to testifying at trial.” As part of the court’s pretrial schedule, Lively was directed to submit her final witness and exhibit lists on April 10.
Court dismisses Blake Lively’s claims
The latest development follows a ruling by Judge Lewis J. Liman on April 2. In his ruling, he narrowed the scope of the case and removed ‘It Ends With Us’ director Baldoni as a defendant. In a surprising move, he also dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims, including sexual harassment, defamation and conspiracy. The case will now move forward with a smaller set of allegations such as, breach of contract and retaliation-related claims, to proceed against the remaining parties, including Wayfarer Studios, co-founded by Baldoni.
Blake Lively issues statement
In a statement shared on her Instagram Stories, Lively said she remains committed to pursuing justice. “I will never stop doing my part in fighting to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence and retaliate against victims,” she wrote, adding, “I know it’s a privilege to be able to stand up. I will not waste it.”She also expressed gratitude to the court for its recent ruling while reiterating that initiating legal proceedings was not her first choice.“The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit,” she wrote, attributing her decision to what she described as “pervasive retaliation” for advocating a safe working environment.
‘Settlement talks’ fail
Prior to this, the court offered both parties the option of ‘settlement talks’ ahead of the hearing. However, the talks between both parties reportedly failed. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, had earlier indicated that negotiations in February were “unsuccessful.”The trial is scheduled to begin in New York City on May 18.
