Man trying to serve Taylor deposition papers gets himself arrested
What's the story
A man was arrested for trespassing at NFL player Travis Kelce's Kansas residence on September 15, per a local report. The suspect, identified as Justin Lee Fisher, reportedly attempted to serve Kelce's fiancée, pop star Taylor Swift with deposition papers related to the ongoing legal battle between actor-director Justin Baldoni and his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively. The incident occurred around 2:00am local time after police received reports of a trespasser near Kelce's gated home in Leawood, Kansas.
Legal implications
Fisher was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing
Fisher, a former police officer turned private investigator, was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing. He allegedly jumped the fence into Kelce's gated estate to serve Swift deposition papers on behalf of Baldoni's lawyers. However, details of the incident were reportedly missing from a one-page police report, which stated in bold letters, "This information is restricted as to use and dissemination."
Case details
Judge denied Baldoni's request to depose Swift earlier this month
Baldoni has been trying to involve Swift in his lawsuit with Lively for a while. However, on September 12, Judge Lewis Liman denied his request, stating that Baldoni's team had waited too long to depose Swift and hadn't shown sufficient cause to extend the September 30 deadline. "Having failed to demonstrate appropriate diligence, the requested extension is denied," Liman wrote at the time.
Legal rebuttal
Baldoni claimed Swift will be testifying, her lawyer denied it
Swift's lawyer, Douglas Baldridge, responded to Baldoni's claim that she agreed to sit for a deposition between October 20-25. He stated that Swift had "no material role in this action" and "did not agree to a deposition." Baldoni's team was reportedly interested in conversations between Swift and Lively about the working conditions on the set of It Ends With Us.
Legal proceedings
What's the ongoing legal battle between Lively and Baldoni about?
Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his Wayfarer Studios colleagues, publicist, and crisis PR team last December. She alleged sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign after she spoke up about it. The legal battle escalated when Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for defamation and extortion. However, Judge Liman dismissed that suit in June.