Judge tells Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni to work out dispute over dismissal of emotional distress claims

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal squabble over her claims of emotional distress hit a roadblock Tuesday when a federal judge refused to let Lively dismiss them on her preferred terms, instead telling both sides to reach an agreement.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal squabble over her claims of emotional distress hit a roadblock Tuesday when a federal judge refused to let Lively dismiss them on her preferred terms, instead telling both sides to reach an agreement.

The recent dispute between the “It Ends With Us” co-stars, who have been entangled in a high-profile legal battle for months, arose after Baldoni’s lawyers requested Lively’s medical and mental health records to defend against her claims that he intentionally and negligently inflicted emotional distress while they were on the set of the film.

Lively’s initial complaint in December accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, as well as retaliation, after she raised issues about his on-set behavior — allegations Baldoni’s lawyers have denied. Since then, the two stars have been embroiled in a tense legal standoff, with each accusing the other of having orchestrated a smear campaign.

Rather than provide medical and mental health records requested by Baldoni's team, Lively offered to drop her emotional distress claims, according to court documents filed Monday. In response, Baldoni’s lawyers Monday disputed her request to dismiss the claims “without prejudice,” meaning she would be able to refile them later. In a court filing, Baldoni’s team argued that Lively should permanently dismiss her claims if she will not provide the medical records it requested.

In its own court filing hours later, Lively’s team called Baldoni’s motion a “false and plainly improper public relations stunt” and asked the court to deny and strike the motion entirely.