On Monday, both sides met in a New York courtroom, marking the first major step in Lively’s $250 million sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni—who has countersued for $400 million, claiming defamation.
One of the key points of contention? Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has been vocal about the case in the media, prompting Lively’s legal team to push for a gag order. They argued Freedman’s public comments were giving them little room to defend their client in the court of public opinion.
The judge, however, only issued a partial gag order, limiting what Freedman can say moving forward. While this wasn’t a complete win for Lively, her lawyers also took issue with Baldoni launching a website about the case, calling it "improper."
Freedman defended his actions, pointing to Lively’s initial claims being published in The New York Times and arguing that her team had orchestrated the article—though the judge noted there was no proof of that.
Another blow to Lively came when the judge ruled she doesn't get to handpick who questions her in a deposition. Freedman has claimed that Lively’s team is attempting to block him from deposing her.
The two lawsuits are now being consolidated into a single case, with a trial expected to begin in March—unless the parties reach a settlement or continue fighting in the media.
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