Blake Lively Vs Justin Baldoni Battle Is “Feud Between PR Firms,” Judge Declares As Decision Punted Over What Material Lawyers Can Share

deadline.com:

This is “a feud between PR firms.” That blunt statement Thursday morning from federal Judge Lewis J. Liman truly set the tone and parameters on the Protective Order hearing in the between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni on what occurred truly during the making of It Ends With Us and the alleged online smear campaign that followed and continues.

Conducted virtually, with Lively, Baldoni and Ryan Reynolds not in apparent attendance, today’s session was focused on the skirmish over how much information in the sprawling matter should be covered under the standard model protective order.

Lively and Reynolds’ side believe confidentially is so at risk and the impulse to leak the media by the other side is so great that an Attorney’s Eyes Only order is needed.

Building off Judge Liman’s starting comment of the quarrel here, Lively and Reynolds attorney Meryl Conant Governski cut to the bottom line. “The parties in this case, on both sides, include people whose entire living is made off providing information to the press and content creators,” the Willkie Farr & Gallagher lawyer told the hearing. “There are 100 million reasons for these parties to leak information because the PR value is greater than complying with the court’s orders.” It’s a premise that lead Baldoni lawyer Bryan Freeman rejected today, as he has many times in the past in filings and media appearances. “No one has any intent of harming Ms.