Blake Lively will testify in her and Justin Baldoni’s upcoming trial.
“The ultimate moment for a plaintiff’s story to be told is at trial,” her lawyer, Mike Gottlieb, told People on Thursday, May 8. “We expect that to be the case here [with Lively]. So we would, of course, expect her to be a witness at her trial. Of course, she’s going to testify.”
He added, “There are individuals who were witnesses to or experienced misconduct that is relevant to Ms. Lively’s claims. We expect their testimony, particularly about what took place on set, will come out through live witness testimony.”
Late last year, Lively, 37, sued Baldoni, 41, for sexual harassment, fostering a hostile work environment and trying to ruin her reputation when they worked together on It Ends With Us. Baldoni denied all claims before filing a $400 million defamation suit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The married couple have since filed to dismiss his case.
According to Gottlieb, pre-trial discovery is currently underway, but it is unknown whether Reynolds, 48, will also take the stand.
“In discovery, they’ll have an opportunity to ask Ms. Lively questions,” Gottlieb told People. “Likewise, we will have the opportunity to take the depositions of the defendants.”
In addition to witness testimony, Lively’s legal team plans to present documents and statements from eyewitnesses and producers as evidence.
“We think there have been a lot of distractions put up to deflect attention from the retaliation campaign that was launched against her,” Gottlieb claimed of Baldoni’s camp. “And we expect and hope that in discovery we’ll have an opportunity to really focus on what we believe to be the core part of the case, which is that this retaliation campaign was launched against Ms. Lively for her having raised concerns about sexual harassment.”
While neither Lively nor Baldoni has publicly addressed the upcoming trial, the Another Simple Favor actress briefly alluded to the situation earlier this month.
“I have had a pretty intense year,” she said on Late Night With Seth Meyers on the May 1 broadcast. “This year has been full of the highest highs and lowest lows of my life. I see so many women around afraid to speak, especially now, afraid to share their experience. Fear is by design, it’s what keeps us silent.”
She continued, “I also acknowledge that many people don’t have the opportunity to speak, so I do feel fortunate that I have been able to.”
Lively was able to find solace in spending time with her and Reynolds’ four children: James, Betty, Inez and Olin.
“No matter what day I am having, I have to be Disneyland for them,” she said. “It’s the best, it’s chaos.”
