Blake Lively has dropped claims related to infliction of emotional distress against Justin Baldoni.
In her new legal filings, Lively requested on Tuesday to withdraw and dismiss her claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
The move comes in response to a letter filed by Baldoni’s letter Kevin Fritz, requesting Judge Lewis J. Liman in U.S. District Court Southern District of New York for “an order compelling Blake Lively to identify her medical and mental health care providers.”
The order would oblige Lively to sign a HIPAA release for access to therapy notes and relevant medical information.
Lively refuses “to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress” and seeks to “maintain the right to re-file her [infliction of emotional distress claims] at an unknown time in this or some other court after the discovery window has closed,” read her filing.
“Ms. Lively cannot have it both ways,” her legal team further stated in the document.
Lively’s lawyers Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb also addressed the recent move in a statement.
“Once again, this is a routine part of the litigation process that is being used as a press stunt. We are doing what trial lawyers do: preparing our case for trial by streamlining and focusing it; they are doing what they do: desperately seeking another tired round of tabloid coverage,” the attorneys told People Magazine.
The actress “continues to allege emotional distress, as part of numerous other claims in her lawsuit, such as sexual harassment and retaliation, and massive additional compensatory damages on all of her claims.”
Both cases in Lively v. Wayfarer Studios et al. are scheduled for trial in March 2026.
Baldoni faces allegations of sexual harassment, “unprofessional” behaviour on set, and launching a retaliatory smear campaign. Meanwhile, Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicity team are being countersued by Baldoni over defamation and extortion.
