The ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has reached another crucial stage, as a federal judge has scheduled a pivotal pretrial hearing that could shape the direction of the high-profile case. The lawsuit, tied to their work on the film It Ends With Us, continues to draw significant public and media attention.
According to a March 26 court filing, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York will hold a video conference hearing on April 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. The hearing will take place via Microsoft Teams, and public and press access will be available through an audio dial-in listed on the official court docket.
Rising Disputes Over Trial Deadlines
One of the main issues leading to the April hearing involves disagreements over pretrial deadlines. Attorneys representing Blake Lively have expressed strong opposition to what they describe as repeated delay tactics by Justin Baldoni and his legal team.
In a letter addressed to Judge Lewis J. Liman, Lively’s lawyers claimed that Baldoni’s side has requested at least three deadline extensions in the past month. They argued that these requests appear to be an “incremental tactic to delay the trial.”
The filing also highlighted alleged missed deadlines by the defense. According to Lively’s legal team, Baldoni’s attorneys submitted revisions to jury instructions later than scheduled and failed to respond promptly to proposed verdict forms.
These ongoing disputes are expected to be discussed during the April 2 hearing, which may determine whether the trial schedule remains unchanged.
Massive Volume of Evidence Under Review
Another point of contention involves the amount of evidence exchanged between both parties. Baldoni’s defense reportedly argued that Lively’s team overwhelmed them with a large volume of materials.
However, Lively’s attorneys rejected that claim. They explained that the scope of the evidence is typical for a complex entertainment-related lawsuit of this magnitude.
The discovery process has produced:
- More than 230 witnesses
- Approximately 89,000 documents
- 37 depositions collected during pretrial discovery
According to Lively’s legal team, Baldoni’s side is supported by multiple law firms and nearly 20 attorneys, making them fully capable of reviewing the evidence before trial.
This exchange of documents, deposition excerpts, and witness lists is part of standard preparation in large civil cases.
Technical Issue With Exhibit List Addressed
A technical issue involving Lively’s exhibit list also contributed to recent disagreements. Her legal team acknowledged that a numbering error affected certain documents submitted as exhibits.
However, they emphasized that the problem was identified quickly and corrected without causing major disruption. According to their filing, the error should not justify delaying the trial or extending deadlines.
Such administrative issues are not uncommon in large cases involving tens of thousands of records.
Tight Pretrial Schedule Continues
Court filings reveal that both parties are deep into trial preparation, following a demanding schedule of deadlines spanning late March through early April.
Key upcoming deadlines include:
- Submission of jury instructions
- Filing objections to exhibits
- Finalizing witness lists
- Completing the joint pretrial order (currently due April 3, 2026)
Despite the disputes, Lively’s legal team stated clearly that she is prepared to move forward without delay.
The trial itself remains scheduled to begin on May 18, 2026, unless the court orders changes after the April hearing.
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Separate Defamation Claim Moves Forward
In a related legal development, a federal judge has ruled that Justin Baldoni may proceed with defamation claims against his former publicist, Stephanie Jones.
Jones had filed a motion to dismiss the case, but the court denied her request. The ruling means Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer, can continue pursuing claims that Jones intentionally leaked private text messages.
According to Baldoni’s legal filings, the alleged leak portrayed him negatively during the broader legal conflict connected to It Ends With Us. The judge concluded that the defamation allegations were sufficiently supported to move forward at this stage.
This separate lawsuit adds another layer of complexity to the overall legal situation.
Background of the Lawsuit
The original lawsuit was filed in 2024 and stems from events that reportedly occurred during the production of the film It Ends With Us, based on the popular novel by Colleen Hoover.
Both Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have publicly denied wrongdoing. Since the case began, numerous legal motions, filings, and procedural disputes have kept the matter in the public spotlight.
With the pretrial phase intensifying and deadlines approaching quickly, the upcoming April 2 hearing could play a significant role in determining how the case proceeds.
What Happens Next
Legal experts suggest that the April 2 pretrial conference will likely address:
- Requests for deadline extensions
- Scheduling disputes
- Final preparation timelines
- Remaining procedural disagreements
If no major delays are granted, the case will proceed toward its scheduled May 18, 2026 trial date, marking a major milestone in one of the most closely followed entertainment-related lawsuits in recent years.
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