Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni DECLINE settlement talks ahead of May 18 trial |
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni may just be heading to court after all. As per the latest reports, the ‘It Ends With Us’ stars have both declined to reach a settlement during court-directed discussions in New York on Monday.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni decline settlement talks
According to reports on Daily Mail, the actors rejected the latest efforts to resolve the matter before it goes to trial. Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave conducted back-to-back remote conferences with legal teams from both sides as part of the settlement process. However, no agreement was reached during the closed-door proceedings. Further discussions may still take place in the coming weeks.
Judge dismisses 10 of Blake Lively’s 13 claims
The settlement talks come days after Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims against Baldoni, including all allegations of sexual harassment. On allegations that Baldoni’s actions on allegedly adding unscripted kisses to the scene Judge Liman wrote, “Creative artists, no less than comedy room writers, must have some amount of space to experiment within the bounds of an agreed script without fear of being held liable for sexual harassment.“
What Judge Liman said about Blake Lively’s allegations
The judge also rejected claims that Baldoni had “fat shamed” Lively, stating that “The physical appearance of the protagonists was part of the product that the producers were intending to offer the audience.”Clapping back at the actress, he added, “Lively herself recognised that achieving a ‘certain aesthetic’ was “part of the job that we both excitedly signed up for.”Several of Lively’s claims were dismissed on the grounds that she failed to sign an Actor Loanout Agreement, which would have governed sexual harassment. The court further stated that Lively also did not qualify as an employee’ as she exercised sufficient control over the production.
About Blake Lively’s three remaining charges against Justin Baldoni
The case that will likely go to trial on May 18, will now focus on three remaining claims that include breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation. Baldoni has denied all charges. Lively filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation during the filming of ‘It Ends With Us’.
