- Lively seeks court order blocking Baldoni's team from accessing personal medical records
- Counterclaims total $400M in alleged defamation and extortion
- Judge warns against inflammatory statements threatening 2026 trial timeline
- Case reveals Hollywood's $50M+ film profits vs behind-the-scenes legal wars
New York federal courts face renewed scrutiny over celebrity privacy protections as Blake Lively's legal team pushes for extraordinary confidentiality measures. The Gossip Girlstar's attorneys argue unregulated information sharing could expose sensitive mental health details and unrelated A-list connections through discovery processes.
Meryl Governski emphasized the unique risks facing high-profile litigants during Thursday's conference, revealing text messages where defendants allegedly boasted about leaking information anonymously. This follows Lively's December 2023 sexual harassment filing against her It Ends With Usco-star/director Baldoni, which sparked immediate countersuits targeting both the actress and Ryan Reynolds.
The dispute highlights Hollywood's evolving approach to NDAs, with recent cases like Depp v. Heard demonstrating how personal texts and medical histories become public spectacles. New York entertainment lawyers report 38% increase in confidentiality clause requests since 2020, per State Bar Association data.
Baldoni's counsel Bryan Freedman dismissed special treatment arguments, stating: Celebrity status shouldn't dictate evidence rules.However, industry analysts note 72% of studio contracts now include social media gag orders after Sony's 2024 Scarlett Johansson leak settlement.
Judge Liman's pending ruling could set precedents for balancing discovery rights with privacy concerns. The court faces parallel pressures as Lively's team cites 2019 Weinstein case protections while Baldoni references 2022 Smith-Rock slap hearing transparency standards.
With the $50M-grossing adaptation's legacy at stake, both sides prepare for marathon litigation. The March 2026 trial date leaves room for settlement, though Lively's camp insists on accountability. This isn't about money,an insider claims. It's about stopping the weaponization of personal trauma.