Justin Baldoni‘s lawyers want to depose Taylor Swift next month as they continue efforts to include the pop star in their ongoing legal war with Blake Lively.
In a filing on Thursday, Baldoni’s lawyers stated that Swift had agreed to sit for a deposition sometime between Oct. 20-25, and asked court permission to extend the deposition deadline for that purpose.
Swift’s lawyer responded on Friday, saying she has “no material role in this action.”
“Further, my client did not agree to a deposition,” wrote the attorney, Douglas Baldridge. He added that if she is forced into a deposition she could be available the week of Oct. 20.
Assuming she is deposed, Swift is likely to be asked about any discussions she had with Lively about conditions on the set of “It Ends With Us.” Baldoni’s team previously got court permission to obtain messages between Lively and Swift, after Lively’s team tried unsuccessfully to exclude Swift from the case.
In a filing on Friday, Lively’s team opposed extending the deposition deadline to accommodate a deposition of Swift, questioning the relevance of her testimony and accusing Baldoni’s lawyers of causing unnecessary delay.
The two sides are nearing completion of discovery in the high-profile case.
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Lively has sued Baldoni, her director and co-star, for sexual harassment and retaliation, alleging that he and the film’s producers and publicists launched an online smear campaign against her to punish her for raising complaints. A trial is scheduled for next spring in federal court in New York.
Lively has already been deposed. Her team has yet to take depositions of Baldoni or co-defendants Steven Sarowitz and Jamey Heath. In a motion on Thursday, her lawyers asked for an extension of the deadline to take depositions from Sept. 30 to Oct. 10, stating that the Baldoni team has dragged its feet in producing requested documents.
Lively’s lawyers also stated that they expect Baldoni’s team to ask for a 30-day extension for all discovery.
In a response on Thursday, Baldoni’s side said that is not true, and that they are asking for an extension only so that they can take Swift’s deposition during the week of Oct. 20-25, “due to Ms. Swift’s preexisting professional obligations.”
Baldoni’s side asked the court to extend the deadline solely for the “purpose of accommodating third-party witness Taylor Swift who has agreed to appear for deposition but is unable to do so before October 20, 2025.”
Lively’s team argued that Baldoni’s side did not take any steps to schedule Swift’s deposition prior to this week. Baldridge, Swift’s attorney, also stated that he was unaware of the issue until three days ago.
Judge Lewis Liman will have to decide whether to allow any extensions of the deadline to accommodate late depositions.
Baldoni’s lawyers have opposed Lively’s request for a blanket extension. The two sides previously reached an agreement to hold Baldoni’s deposition on Sept. 21-22, Sarowitz’s on Sept. 15, and Heath’s on Sept. 18-19. Lively’s team argues that Baldoni’s lawyers are defying a court order to turn over Signal messages promptly, and that as a result they need more time to prepare.
Lively’s team has argued that Baldoni’s side has repeatedly dragged Swift into the case in order to attract media attention. Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lead attorney, previously alleged that he had heard that Lively was seeking to pressure Swift to issue a statement of support, and that Lively had urged Swift to delete their communications. The judge struck that allegation from the court record.
Baldoni’s team also previously subpoenaed Swift for communications, though that subpoena was later withdrawn.
Updated with to include responses from Swift and Lively to Baldoni’s assertion that Swift “agreed” to a deposition.
From Variety US