Blake Lively reportedly withdraws infliction of emotional distress claim against Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively has moved to withdraw her claims of emotional distress in the legal case involving Justin Baldoni, her It Ends With Us co-star and director. On June 2, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants actress requested the dismissal of both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress allegations, as per court records.

In a turn of events, Baldoni’s attorneys requested a HIPAA release for Blake Lively’s medical and therapy records. A HIPAA document seeks authorization from a patient to release their protected health information to a third party. Lively's team, instead of complying with requests, notified the opposing counsel of the decision to drop the claims.

“Instead of complying with the Medical RFPs, Ms. Lively’s counsel recently advised us, in writing, that Ms. Lively is withdrawing her [infliction of emotional distress] Claims,” the court filing stated.

The filing explained that the withdrawal was made without prejudice, a legal status allowing for re-filing of the claims in the future. Baldoni's team argued that Lively was “refusing to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress."

Blake Lively's legal battle heats up as mental health records come into picture

In cases involving allegations of emotional or physical harm, the defense will typically review the plaintiff's medical history to determine the extent of the alleged injury. However, this motion was denied by Lively's team.

Blake Lively's attorneys, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, pushed back against media coverage framing the change as a retreat.

“The Baldoni-Wayfarer strategy of filing retaliatory claims has exposed them to expansive new damages claims under California law, rendering certain of Ms. Lively’s original claims no longer necessary. Ms. Lively continues to allege emotional distress, as part of numerous other claims in her lawsuit, such as sexual harassment and retaliation, and massive additional compensatory damages on all of her claims.”

A judge must now decide whether Blake Lively will be compelled to provide her mental health records or if the two remaining claims in the case will be dismissed, with or without prejudice.

Baldoni's legal team challenges Blake Lively’s attempt to withdraw emotional distress claims

Justin Baldoni’s legal team is pushing back against Blake Lively’s attempt to drop emotional distress claims without conditions, according to a court filing submitted to Judge Liman in the Southern District of New York.

The filing, signed by Baldoni's attorney Kevin Fritz, reads :

“Ms. Lively cannot have it both ways. If Ms. Lively wants to withdraw her frivolous IED Claims, the Wayfarer Parties are entitled to a dismissal with prejudice to ensure they will not be re-filed. If Ms. Lively is unwilling to stipulate to the dismissal of her IED Claims with prejudice, then the Wayfarer Parties will continue to defend against them, and she must produce her medical information and documents as set forth herein.”

The filing also states,

“By alleging that she suffered physical and emotional injuries, Ms. Lively has placed her physical and mental condition at issue and, in turn, must produce relevant information and documents [including] psychiatric records, In other words, Ms. Lively has waived any doctor-patient privilege.”

The emotional distress claim filed by Blake Lively was part of a broader sexual harassment lawsuit. Her legal battle is tied to the reported behind the scene events, that took place on the sets of It Ends With Us. Lively, who’s married to Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, accused Baldoni of misconduct and accused him of running a smear campaign against her.

In return, Justin denied the accusations and filed a countersuit where he added Blake, Ryan, and their publicist, alleging extortion and defamation.

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Both lawsuits remain active and are headed to trial in March 2026.

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