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Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, is speaking out on why the director and actor’s $400 million defamation countersuit against Blake Lively was not amended.
Back in June, U.S. District Court Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed the lawsuit filed by Baldoni and the director’s production company Wayfarer Studios against Lively, Ryan Reynolds and their publicist, alleging extortion and defamation, as well as Baldoni’s $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times.
Baldoni’s legal team had until June 23 to amend the claims for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference. After failing to file a further amended complaint, the judge formally ended the countersuit on Oct. 31.
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In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Freedman explained why Baldoni failed to file a further amended complaint, saying, “The truth regarding this case continuously and completely gets distorted in the media.”
“Even something as simple as a procedural update has resulted in a total mischaracterization,” Freedman continued. “At this point, we have to set the record straight: no deadlines were missed. Our clients chose not to amend their complaint to preserve appeal rights.”
Freedman added, “In the meantime, we are focusing on Ms. Lively’s claims. We remain fully committed to pursuing the truth through every legal and factual avenue available and look forward to our day in court.”
Judge Liman said he contacted all parties on Oct. 17 to warn them that he would enter a final judgment to conclude the case.
A document reviewed by PEOPLE showed that Lively was the only one to respond, asking the judge to declare a final judgment and to keep her request for legal fees active, which the judge agreed to.
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“Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us,” Lively said on her Instagram Stories on Monday, June 9, after the lawsuit was dismissed. “While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back.”
The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni began in December when Lively sued him for misconduct on the set and a retaliatory smear campaign, claims he has denied.
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A trial for the ongoing lawsuit has been set for March 2026.
