NEW YORK, Feb 3 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Monday

admonished lawyers for Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively not to

publicly discuss the actors' competing civil lawsuits stemming

from Lively's claim that Baldoni sexually harassed her while

filming the movie "It Ends With Us."

Lively's lawyer Michael Gottlieb complained to U.S. District

Judge Lewis Liman at a hearing in Manhattan federal court that

Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman violated professional ethics

rules for lawyers by accusing Lively of "bullying."

"It's very hard to un-ring the bell," Gottlieb said, arguing

that such statements could taint the jury pool for the scheduled

March 2026 trial.

Freedman suggested that his comments to "People" magazine

and in a podcast appearance were a response to a Dec. 21 New

York Times ( NYT ) article that "completely devastated" Baldoni.

"This has not been a one-way street," he said.

Liman adopted a New York state rule barring most

out-of-court statements that could affect a case's outcome, with

an exception for protecting a client from prejudicial adverse

publicity.

The judge could sanction lawyers for violations. Neither

Gottlieb nor Freedman objected. Neither Lively nor Baldoni

attended Monday's hearing.

Lively sued Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer

Studios on Dec. 31.

Her claims included that Baldoni, who also directed "It Ends

With Us," kissed her beyond what was required during a scene he

insisted be shot "over and over again."

Lively also said Baldoni retaliated by launching a public

smear campaign in anticipation of the sexual harassment

allegations becoming public.

Baldoni and Wayfarer countered with a $400 million

defamation lawsuit on Jan. 16, saying the harassment allegations

were false and Lively initiated the unchoreographed kissing.

They also accused Lively of plotting to release her own cut

of the film, ousting Baldoni from marketing efforts, and using

promotional efforts for the film to advertise her hair care and

alcoholic beverage products.

Baldoni and Wayfarer have also sued the New York Times ( NYT )

for $250 million, accusing the newspaper of defamation

for uncritically taking Lively's side in the Dec. 21 article.

A Times spokesperson said the newspaper would vigorously

defend against Baldoni's lawsuit.