Judge Liman’s Pressure Points — and What Lively Said Under Oath скачать в хорошем качестве

Judge Liman’s Pressure Points — and What Lively Said Under Oath

In a high-stakes hearing that could determine whether Lively v. Baldoni ever reaches a jury, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman pressed both sides with pointed questions—many of them shaped directly by the deposition testimony of Blake Lively herself. The hearing, held on January 22, 2026, centered on Baldoni’s motion for summary judgment, in which his legal team portrayed Lively’s claims as exaggerated, overly personalized reactions to what they called standard industry behavior on a romantic film set. But Judge Liman wasn’t entirely persuaded. He zeroed in on the cumulative nature of the alleged conduct, citing Lively’s sworn statements in which she detailed repeated boundary violations, including unscripted physical contact during filming, surprise changes to sexual content in the script, and alleged retaliation after voicing concerns. “Even small things can add up,” Judge Liman said during one exchange—directly echoing language Lively used in her deposition to describe the daily atmosphere on set. Her testimony, in which she described instances of discomfort and emotional distress, appeared to lay the groundwork for the judge’s skepticism toward the defense’s attempt to minimize the claims as isolated or trivial. Still, Liman also questioned whether certain incidents—such as changes to dialogue or on-set direction—could legally amount to harassment, suggesting that courts must be careful not to convert every directorial decision into a jury question. “That can’t be right,” he said, drawing a clear line between creative discretion and potential legal liability. Legal observers noted that the judge’s questions reflected a careful weighing of the facts: Lively’s testimony gave her allegations emotional weight and legal relevance, but Liman appeared determined to assess whether they rose to the level of actionable misconduct under federal and state law. With no ruling yet issued, and a May 2026 trial date still on the horizon, one thing is clear: Lively’s deposition didn’t just tell her side of the story—it helped shape the court’s entire line of inquiry.