Justin Baldoni reportedly steps into legal spotlight during Blake Lively’s deposition

Justin Baldoni has reportedly stepped into the legal spotlight today by making an appearance during Blake Lively's deposition. As per TMZ, the deposition was held at Blake Lively’s attorney’s office today, and Baldoni also made a dramatic entrance at the event, which was attended by both parties' legal teams.

Baldoni and Lively are currently engaged in a legal dispute, and the two parties have been arguing over the location of the deposition over the past few weeks. Baldoni’s legal team had suggested holding the deposition at Madison Square Garden, but the judge granted a protective order giving Lively’s team control over the deposition environment.

Justin Baldoni's appearance came as a surprise to many, especially as he was in disagreement over the decision to host the deposition at Lively's lawyer's office. As per TMZ, he took a keen interest in the proceedings as Lively set about answering the questions asked by Baldoni's legal team.

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively's lawsuit

The dispute between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively took a turn for the worse last year after the latter advanced s*xual harassment and hostile work environment claims against her former co-star. She also accused Baldoni of trying to disparage her reputation, claims which the actor has denied.

Since the allegations came to light, Justin Baldoni has filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, claiming defamation and extortion. Apart from taking legal action against Lively, he has also launched a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times for their coverage of the allegations.

The two have been throwing barbs at each other since the allegations first surfaced, and have disputed each other's claims. The case had its first major development last month when the judge dismissed Justin Baldoni’s countersuit, ruling that Lively’s allegations were protected under defamation laws.

In the aftermath of the decision, Lively's spokesperson expressed their satisfaction at the ruling through a statement, in which they said:

"The Court dismissed the frivolous $400 million Baldoni-Wayfarer lawsuit in its entirety. In the days that followed, Baldoni's lawyer said the judge's decision to dismiss their case was not a big deal as they promised to amend and refile it. As per usual, that was not true. The Court's dismissal of Baldoni's sham lawsuit was a total victory after all."

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Justin Baldoni's legal team came down heavily on the statements and brushed aside the ruling as having no bearing on the case. They have launched an impassioned defence of their client and accused Lively of using her celebrity status to get her way. They maintain that Lively’s accusations are baseless and have emphasized their client’s desire for vindication.

When the deposition was shifted for two weeks from July 17, not many had expected Baldoni to make a surprise appearance at the deposition. With the trial scheduled to start next year in March, many eyes will be firmly fixated on the developments surrounding the case till then.

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