In Blake Lively / Justin
Baldoni Cases NY Rule on Lawyer
Statements Enforceable in SDNY
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE,
Feb 3 – In the Blake Lively v.
Justin Baldoni lawsuits, a
hearing was held on February 3
before U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New
York Judge Lewis J. Liman.
In a
written order after the
hearing, Judge Liman ruled
that "By consent of the
parties, Rule 3.6 of the New
York Rules of Professional
Conduct is adopted as an order
of the Court applicable to all
counsel of record. Breach of
this Rule may be punished
pursuant to Rule 16(f) of the
Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure or the Court’s
inherent power" - that is, any
future fights about the NYS
rule will be before Judge
Liman in SDNY. Order on
Patreon here.
Inner City
Press was there with live
coverage, from the thread:
Judge Liman: Mr.
Gottlieb, do you wish to be
heard on pre-trial publicity?
Lively's lawyer
Gottlieb: The issue is
straight forward. The conduct
of Mr. Freedman has violated
NY Rules of Professional
Conduct - they prohibit
extra-judicial statements like
this
Baldoni's
Freedman: On Jan 2 they said,
Nothing changes anything about
Ms. Lively's claim, we
encourage people to read her
complaint. Judge Liman: You
could have said that, review
our pleadings. But you went
further Freedman: They said,
sex harassment is illegal
Baldoni's
Freedman: My client suffered
100s of millions of dollars in
damages. We're willing to
stipulate to the local rules-
Judge Liman: I will adopt the
Rule, with some reluctance.
Still, I don't want satellite
litigation about statements of
the lawyers
Judge
Liman: If it turns out this
ends of being litigated in the
press I may accelerate the
date of the trial. Unless this
case is settled, a jury will
speak. Baldoni's Freedman:
Damage is done before a jury
speaks. Judge Liman: I get it.
Adjourned
More on X for
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