Blake Lively Seeks to Protect Financial Privacy in Upcoming Trial Against Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively's Legal Preparations
Blake Lively is gearing up for her trial against Justin Baldoni, scheduled for May 18. In a recent legal move, she has requested that the jury be prohibited from learning about her financial situation or that of her husband, Ryan Reynolds. This request stems from concerns that their substantial wealth could skew the jury's perception of her claims regarding financial damages.
Concerns Over Wealth Disclosure
Why is Blake Lively hiding her wealth?
Legal documents obtained by media sources indicate that Lively is keen on keeping her and Reynolds' estimated net worth of approximately $380 million out of the courtroom discussions. Her legal team believes that disclosing this information might lead jurors to dismiss her claims as exaggerated or trivial due to her financial status.
This request is particularly significant as Lively alleges that she incurred losses of $161 million due to a purported smear campaign. However, the complexity of the case is heightened by a judge's previous dismissal of her defamation claim, raising doubts about the relevance of the financial figure in the trial. Nonetheless, Lively continues to pursue allegations that Baldoni retaliated against her after she voiced concerns about a toxic work environment during the filming of It Ends with Us.
Witnesses for the Trial
Who are Blake Lively's witnesses?
As the trial approaches, both parties are preparing thoroughly. Reports indicate that Lively has compiled an extensive list of witnesses, including her husband, Ryan Reynolds, who is anticipated to provide testimony regarding the film's production and the alleged retaliation she faced.
Additionally, her co-stars Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer, along with her sister Robyn Lively, are also expected to testify. Several individuals associated with Baldoni, including his former publicist Stephanie Jones and ex-podcast co-host Liz Plank, have been named as potential witnesses. Notably, Colleen Hoover, the author of It Ends with Us, is also on the list, although her testimony may be delivered via deposition. Other witnesses include publicist Jennifer Abel, digital strategist Jed Wallace, and Steve Sarowitz, co-founder of Wayfarer Studios.