Inside Blake Lively’s Secret Subpoena Strategy: How She Quietly Built Her Case Against Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively’s legal battle with actor Justin Baldoni has taken a complicated turn, with new reports revealing that the actress may have filed a secret subpoena against him months before publicly accusing him of sexual harassment. The legal maneuver, which was allegedly carried out discreetly, has sparked legal debates and raised questions about the unusual steps taken in the case.

The Secret Subpoena

According to Page Six, Lively, through her company, secretly filed a subpoena to obtain private communications from Baldoni’s former publicity team. The subpoena was issued under the name of her company, Vanzan, rather than her own, in an attempt to gain access to sensitive information. The request was directed to Stephanie Jones, Baldoni’s former publicist, who now runs her own firm, Jonesworks.

The subpoena sought all communications involving Baldoni, Lively, and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds. These documents were believed to be connected to Lively’s future lawsuit, and they included emails and messages exchanged between crisis PR manager Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, a former employee working with Baldoni at the time. These messages became a key part of Lively’s legal argument, particularly as they allegedly revealed a coordinated smear campaign against her during Baldoni’s promotional efforts for It Ends With Us in August 2024.

One of the messages reportedly included a statement from Nathan saying, “We can bury anyone.” This message was later presented by Lively’s legal team as evidence of an organized attempt to damage her reputation. Despite the potential weight of these claims, Lively’s initial lawsuit was dropped in December 2024, just days before she filed a formal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment.

Legal Reactions: Controversy Over Tactics

The secretive nature of the subpoena has raised eyebrows within the legal community. Attorney Ron Zambrano, who is not involved in the case, told the Daily Mail that the actions taken by Lively’s team appeared to be “very shady” and “clandestine.” Zambrano suggested that Lively’s strategy was likely aimed at quietly gathering information without alerting Baldoni’s side or allowing them to respond, which he described as a tactic to avoid scrutiny and possibly gain an unfair advantage.

The subpoena’s use of Vanzan, Lively’s company, rather than her own name, was also criticized by Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman. Freedman accused Lively of misusing the legal system, claiming that the company had no direct connection to the case and was solely used to acquire legal power under false pretenses. He argued that this tactic was intended to avoid oversight and prevent Baldoni’s team from being able to challenge the subpoena effectively.

The Broader Impact: Accusations and Defenses

As the case unfolds, both Lively and Baldoni are now engaged in lawsuits against each other, with each side presenting contrasting arguments and evidence. Lively’s legal team has framed the subpoena and the subsequent harassment claims as part of a larger effort to combat an alleged coordinated attack on her public image. However, the secrecy surrounding the subpoena and the legal moves that followed have made it difficult to assess the full scope of the situation.

On the other hand, Baldoni’s defense centers around the claims that Lively’s actions, particularly the secretive legal tactics, were an attempt to discredit him and his team. The public dispute has garnered significant media attention, with both sides continuing to make their cases in the press and the courts.

Looking Ahead: Legal and Public Repercussions

As the legal drama between Lively and Baldoni continues, the case has raised questions about privacy, tactics, and fairness in celebrity lawsuits. Lively’s legal actions, which have so far been shrouded in secrecy, have drawn significant attention from legal experts and the public alike, raising concerns about the ethical implications of such maneuvers.

The public nature of the accusations and the underlying legal battle promises to continue to unfold, with both parties involved in a complex and increasingly contentious dispute. As more details emerge, it remains to be seen how the court of law, and public opinion, will weigh in on the unusual legal strategy employed by Lively and the accusations that have followed. For now, the only certainty is that the drama between these two Hollywood stars is far from over.