Legal Troubles for Justin Baldoni’s Attorney

It seems that Justin Baldoni’s lawyer is now embroiled in a medical malpractice lawsuit tied to Baldoni’s ongoing $400 million legal dispute with his co-star Blake Lively. As reported recently, Brian Friedman, a prominent attorney noted for his tough demeanor, is facing a civil suit along with a complaint from a state attorney regarding his conduct in a separate case involving Baldoni.

Back in 2021, Friedman represented Travis Flores in a copyright dispute against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer. The lawsuit claimed Baldoni had appropriated Flores’ screenplay titled “Three Feet Distance” for his film “Five Feet Apart.” Ultimately, the case was settled in 2022.

Both scripts were centered on romantic narratives about couples dealing with cystic fibrosis, a serious disease that Flores battled. Tragically, Flores passed away last year due to complications related to this illness. He had appeared in Baldoni’s documentary series “My Last Days,” sharing his experiences with his diagnosis.

Now, Flores’ husband, Clement Souilli, has filed a lawsuit that alleges legal malpractice, invasion of privacy, and defamation. This lawsuit contends that Friedman “substituted” Baldoni for a “seriously ill customer” inappropriately. Souilli, who manages his deceased partner’s estate, has also lodged a formal complaint with the California attorney’s office, though they haven’t responded to requests for comments.

In his lawsuit, Souilli claims Friedman breached attorney-client privilege and misrepresented Flores’ case during media discussions following his death. Notably, attorney-client privilege is said to persist beyond a client’s death in the jurisdiction where the original copyright lawsuit was initiated.

Earlier this year, Friedman defended his representation of Baldoni, known for his role in “Jane the Virgin,” while discussing Flores’ case. He remarked, “Over the years, I have come to realize what an admirable person Justin and Wayfarer truly are,” emphasizing that the lawsuit against Baldoni had been resolved without assigning liability.

Friedman’s remarks appeared to dismiss any wrongdoing. He hasn’t commented further on the recent allegations leveled against him by Souilli.

In another related case, Baldoni’s $400 million defamation suit against Lively, her publicists, and the New York Times was tossed out by a federal judge. The court ruled that Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment and the coverage by the Times were legally protected under free speech.

Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the production of their romantic drama, which debuted in August 2024, claiming he shared unwanted details regarding her personal life. She further alleged that Baldoni orchestrated a smear campaign against her.

Currently, the New York Times is pursuing Baldoni for legal fees related to a suit that was later withdrawn. They had published a detailed report on the allegations made by Lively concerning Baldoni.

Friedman is no stranger to high-profile legal cases, having represented various celebrities and earned a reputation for his confrontational style. He previously indicated, “If you mess with my client, expect consequences.”

As of now, he is also representing Vin Diesel in a separate lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting an assistant back during the filming of “Fast Five.” According to recent documents, Friedman’s aggressive tactics have even led to confrontation with opposing counsel in that case, revealing a pattern in his legal strategy.

Interestingly, it has been reported that in 1991, Friedman settled allegations of sexual assault involving a minor while in college. When questioned if he disclosed this to the California Bar, they highlighted that assessments of moral character are treated confidentially.