Justin Baldoni’s legal team criticizes publicist Stephanie Jones amid ongoing dispute

Actor Justin Baldoni has taken a stronger legal stance against publicist Stephanie Jones, who is at the center of a legal dispute that has drawn public attention, especially due to its links with actress Blake Lively.
In newly updated counterclaims, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, responded firmly after Jones’ lawyers recently spoke publicly about the case on “Extra” with host Billy Bush.
Freedman claimed in a statement to TMZ that the team representing Baldoni decided to amend their legal response due to what they say is new information being uncovered regularly. He accused Stephanie Jones and her company, Jonesworks, of misrepresenting facts related to a separate lawsuit that he labeled a “sham.” This lawsuit, according to Freedman, was used inappropriately to gather private information and involved what he described as deceptive legal tactics.
He alleged that the so-called “Van-sham” lawsuit, connected to Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, was designed in a way that avoided naming real individuals as defendants. This, he claimed, helped prevent any objections or legal challenges to the case. He found it hard to believe that Lively’s side could pretend not to know the identities of their own employees and business partners, suggesting that the situation pointed to something much more calculated.
Freedman insisted that Jones and her firm played a role in this situation, and he dismissed any claims of a smear campaign by Baldoni’s side. He instead suggested that if there was any such campaign, it was being carried out by Lively, Jones, and even the New York Times. He concluded by stating that they were determined to continue seeking justice and would not back down until the truth came out.
On the other hand, Stephanie Jones’ legal team fired back strongly. Her attorney, Maaren Shah, told TMZ that their lawsuit was based on solid evidence, which allegedly shows that Wayfarer Studios and Ms. Abel violated their contracts with Jonesworks. Shah said Baldoni’s side had not offered a proper defense and accused them of trying to distract the public with conspiracy theories and media stunts.
Kristin Tahler, another lawyer representing Jones, also criticized the amended legal claims. She described Baldoni’s team’s recent actions as a “desperate ploy” and said their statements were confusing and lacked substance. Tahler added that they had failed to deny the serious accusations made against them and instead tried to divert attention with dramatic claims.
The legal battle continues to unfold publicly, with both sides standing firm. The outcome of the case remains to be seen, but it has already captured widespread media interest.