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- 🔥 Quick Facts
- Baldoni’s Team Accuses Lively of Strategic ‘Document Dump’
- Blake Lively Fights Back, Calls Motion a Delay Tactic
- Pretrial Deadlines Shift as Trial Approaches
- Baldoni Scores Separate Defamation Victory Against Former Publicist
- What Does This Mean for Blake Lively’s Case at Trial in May?
Blake Lively just suffered a significant setback in her legal battle against Justin Baldoni, as a federal judge granted his team’s request for a pretrial delay just weeks before the scheduled trial. The judge’s decision to push back key deadlines by one week gives Baldoni time to review over 1,000 exhibits that Lively’s team submitted, raising questions about whether her strategy will hold up in May.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Judge’s Ruling: Federal Judge Lewis J. Liman granted Baldoni’s motion to extend pretrial deadlines from April 3 to April 10
- The Claim: Baldoni’s team accused Blake Lively’s attorneys of submitting nearly 1,000 exhibits in what they called a “document dump”
- Trial Date: The case is still scheduled to begin May 18 in the Southern District of New York
- Additional Win: A judge also ruled that Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against former publicist Stephanie Jones can proceed to trial
Baldoni’s Team Accuses Lively of Strategic ‘Document Dump’
Justin Baldoni and co-defendants sought the one-week extension on March 25, claiming Blake Lively’s legal team flooded them with discovery materials that made pretrial preparation impossible. The defense argued that nearly 1,000 potential exhibits submitted by Lively’s side included “voluminous amounts of plainly inadmissible material.”
“It is difficult to imagine that even half that number would be put before the jury,” Baldoni’s attorneys wrote in their motion. The filmmaker’s legal team also objected to Lively identifying more than 40 potential witnesses, calling the scope of the case “overbroad” for practical trial purposes. The jury instructions document currently spans 85 pages covering 13 separate claims.
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Blake Lively Fights Back, Calls Motion a Delay Tactic
Blake Lively’s legal team quickly pushed back on March 26, accusing Baldoni of using “an incremental tactic to delay the trial.” Her attorneys rejected the “document dump” characterization, arguing that providing comprehensive discovery materials is standard legal practice for a plaintiff bearing the burden of proof.
“Defendants have repeatedly taken the position that trial preparations are premature,” Lively’s team responded, pointing out that Baldoni had engaged in “other delay tactics” and failed to meet initially agreed-upon deadlines. They emphasized that Lively remains prepared to proceed and that Baldoni’s motions to dismiss were still pending, making full trial preparation necessary.
Pretrial Deadlines Shift as Trial Approaches
| Event | Original Date | New Date |
| Pretrial Filings Deadline | April 3 | April 10 |
| Final Pretrial Conference | April 21 | April 28 |
| Status Conference | TBA | April 2, 5:00 PM ET |
| Trial Start | May 18 | May 18 |
Judge Lewis J. Liman granted Baldoni’s motion while maintaining the May 18 trial start date. Both parties are scheduled to appear at a video pretrial conference on April 2 at 5:00 PM ET. The extended deadlines give Baldoni’s team additional time to prepare jury instructions and finalize motions before the final pretrial conference scheduled for April 28.
Baldoni Scores Separate Defamation Victory Against Former Publicist
In an unexpected development, Judge Liman also ruled that Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against Stephanie Jones, his former publicist, can proceed to trial. Wayfarer Studios claimed Jones maliciously leaked texts that sparked the entire legal saga following her dispute with Baldoni over his representation.
The ruling means that Jones, Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane, and other key figures may face discovery under oath regarding their communications. Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, stated that “the court rejected Stephanie Jones’ effort to dismiss the case and will allow Wayfarer’s claims, including defamation, to be tested on a full evidentiary record.”
What Does This Mean for Blake Lively’s Case at Trial in May?
Blake Lively filed her $160 million lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and a coordinated smear campaign. Baldoni countersued for $400 million, but Judge Liman dismissed that claim in November 2025. Settlement negotiations failed in February 2026 after six hours of mediation.
The pretrial delay is a tactical victory for Baldoni but not a game-changer for the May 18 trial date. Both Lively and Baldoni are expected to testify as the case centers on events during the production of “It Ends With Us.” With only seven weeks until trial, jury selection and opening statements will determine whether Lively’s harassment allegations hold up against Baldoni’s defense of his conduct on set.
