The judge signals that he can reject NYT from $ 400 million Baldoni-Livor case of defamation

New York – a Judge of March 4 reported to reject New York Times as a defendant in a defamation trial of $ 400 million ($ 535 million) Justin Baldoni claimed that the newspaper was clashing with actress Blake Lively To snatch him after he accused him of sexual harassment.

The US district judge, Lewis Liman, from Manhattan, said that the February 28 Motion of the Times to be excused in the case offered “substantial reasons for dismissal” and “a powerful showing that its rejection motion is likely to be successful”.

Baldoni denied the lively sexual harassment or engaging in a smear campaign.

He and Livly have submitted competing civil processes arising from Lively’s assertion that Baldoni has sexually harassed while the Filma ends with us (2024), which Baldoni also directed. Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, is also charged in the Baldoni trial.

Baldoni lawyers and its Wayfarer Studios production company did not respond immediately to comment applications. Livly and Reynolds’ lawyers did not respond immediately to similar requests.

Baldoni accused The Times of working behind the scenes with Lively on a false and malicious narrative and became a “pipe for her revenge”, resulting in his article of December 21, 2024 “” we can bury anyone “: inside a smear from Hollywood.”

In his dismissal motion, The Times said he was employed only in the newspapers and the publication of the article and that the applicants did not show that he had acted with real wickedness.

The newspaper also said that the only alleged defamatory statement in the article – that the applicants have orchestrated a “smear campaign” in reprisals for the lively complaint for sexual harassment – the opinion was protected.

Mr. Liman also granted the Times’s request to put the discovery or collection of evidence, waiting, waiting for a decision regarding the rejection proposal.

“Today we appreciate the court’s decision, which recognizes the important values ​​of the first amendment in the game,” said Times spokesman Danielle Rhoades Ha, in a statement. “The court stopped Mr. Baldoni to burden the times with requests for discovery in a case that should never be brought.” Reuters

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