“This is civil litigation, not a criminal prosecution” — Justin Baldoni’s lawyer on Blake Lively’s “invasive” subpoena for the actor’s phone records

On February 12, 2025, Blake Lively’s lawyers filed subpoenas to access Justin Baldoni’s phone records. However, Baldoni and his lawyer, Mitchell Schuster, were not supportive of the idea. On February 14, 2025, Schuster submitted a letter to the court criticizing the subpoenas and asking the judge to deny them.

Baldoni argued that accessing his personal phone records could reveal information about his internet usage and location data. His lawyer mentioned that Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, were not authorized, like the FBI, to access such data. According to a report by Variety, Schuster wrote in his letter to the court:

“It is hard to overstate how broad, invasive, and atypical these Subpoenas truly are. This is civil litigation, not a criminal prosecution.”

In his letter, Schuster argued that the request was excessive and would invade the privacy of many individuals, including family, friends, and business partners. He also called the subpoenas a publicity stunt.

Schuster found this hypocritical, given that Lively’s team previously criticized Justin Baldoni’s media approach. Nonetheless, he noted that they were now using similar tactics. Blake Lively’s legal team also targeted a crisis consultant in Texas and major internet providers to uncover those allegedly damaging her reputation.

The subpoenas seek extensive phone and internet records dating back to December 1, 2022. These include call logs, text history, and location data. Baldoni’s team dismissed the effort as an overly broad search for evidence, while Lively’s side questioned why Justin Baldoni was unwilling to provide proof if he had nothing to hide.

Justin Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman claimed that Blake Lively’s legal teams’ demands were “extraordinary”

Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, claimed that Blake Lively’s legal team’s demands were “extraordinary.”Freedman had previously stated that subpoenas are a normal part of legal proceedings, but he argued that Blake Lively’s team was making an extreme request. They were demanding detailed records of every call, text, data log, and real-time location tracking over the past two and a half years.

According to Variety, Lively’s spokesperson countered by saying that these records would uncover key details about the situation. They stated that Justin Baldoni and his team have already acknowledged that Blake Lively had repeatedly raised concerns.

They reportedly acknowledged making a plan in case she spoke out, which, according to Lively’s team, included discussions about her public image. Lively’s team also claimed that Baldoni’s side allegedly discussed how public opinion had shifted against her.

On January 6, 2025, Lively’s legal team told People magazine that her allegations of harassment and retaliation were backed by solid evidence. They highlighted how it’s a common tactic to reverse roles, making the accused seem like the real victim.

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The next day, Baldoni’s lawyer responded that they had evidence proving a pattern of bullying and threats from Lively. It was claimed that she was trying to take control of the film.

Blake Lively’s lawyers also subpoenaed major telecom companies to support their claim that Justin Baldoni and his team orchestrated a smear campaign against her in response to her harassment complaint. Meanwhile, Baldoni insists that Lively falsely accused him, severely damaging his reputation.

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