Justin Bardoni’s legal team contends that Blake Lively is attempting to influence the conditions of her upcoming deposition due to her celebrity status.
The lawyers for the “Jane the Virgin” star responded to Lively’s request for her deposition to take place at her attorney’s office in New York City on Thursday, citing concerns about potential paparazzi encounters outside Bardoni’s lawyer’s office.
In defense, Bardoni’s team argued that there is no supporting evidence for her claims, highlighting that the two law offices are only about a mile apart. According to reports, they emphasized that holding the deposition at Lively’s lawyer’s office could disadvantage them by limiting their space for private discussions during the proceedings.
The actor’s lawyers remarked that although Lively might leverage her Hollywood status in other contexts, her request for special handling in court isn’t justified on this matter.
Bardoni’s and Lively’s legal representatives did not respond immediately to requests for comments from the media.
Previously, Lively’s team accused Bardoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, of attempting to transform her deposition into a public spectacle.
Lively expressed her eagerness to participate in her deposition, insisting it should follow the same guidelines as those for all other witnesses involved in the case.
Furthermore, Bardoni’s lawyers humorously suggested selling tickets for a televised deposition event, framing it as yet another attempt to make the situation overly public. They stressed that the issues at hand, related to sexual harassment and retaliation, are serious matters deserving respectful handling.
Freedman later indicated the nature of future depositions, emphasizing that he would be inquiring under the threat of perjury, compelling her to present truthful evidence. He mentioned having video recordings and written communications to verify the facts surrounding the case.
Bardoni denies the allegations of sexual harassment on the set of their film, “It’ll End With Us,” while facing a lawsuit from Lively, who is also taking action against a spokesperson allegedly involved in a smear campaign against her.
Bardoni, 41, counters claims made by Lively, who is 37, defending his honor amid the heightened scrutiny. However, a judge dismissed his claims last month.
