Blake Lively may face a trial over her sexual harassment complaint against Justin Baldoni, according to legal expert Gregory Doll. Lively, 37, filed the complaint this week, accusing her It Ends with Us costar Baldoni, 40, of harassment during filming, as well as a retaliatory public smear campaign aimed at damaging her reputation. If a mediation solution isn’t reached, Lively could take her case to court.
Lively is suing Baldoni, who also directed the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, and other members of the production team involved in the alleged smear campaign. She seeks unspecified damages for the alleged harassment and retaliation.
In response, Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, called Lively’s claims “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious” and accused her of attempting to fix her “negative reputation.” Freedman further claimed that Lively caused disruptions on set, including threats not to appear for filming or promote the movie.
Lively, on the other hand, stated she hopes her legal action will shed light on retaliatory tactics used against those who speak out about misconduct. The California Civil Rights Department, where Lively filed the complaint, has 60 days to determine if the case will be investigated.
Doll, who is not representing either party, explained that mediation is a common outcome in Hollywood legal cases. However, he added that Lively’s case could potentially go to trial, particularly if the discovery process reveals more evidence of misconduct. If no settlement is reached, Lively would be issued a “right to sue letter,” allowing her to take the case to court.
While Lively’s primary goal may already be accomplished by publicly sharing her narrative, Doll anticipates that Baldoni will likely file a countersuit. “It’s almost guaranteed,” Doll said of the potential countersuit.
