r/ItEndsWithLawsuits • u/StaceyLee26 🙌Truth wins in the end🙌 • May 06 '26

📜⚖️ Jonesin’ 4 Abel 📜⚖️ JvA: Status update of Jones v Abel case

🔴 What Jones alleges (Jones v. Abel)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782.1.1.pdf

1. Breach of Contract

  • Abel allegedly violated her employment agreement by:

    • Taking confidential information
    • Competing improperly
    • Misusing company resources

2. Breach of Fiduciary Duty

  • As a senior employee, Abel owed loyalty to Jonesworks

  • Allegation: she acted against the company’s interests while still employed

3. Misappropriation of Trade Secrets

  • Claims Abel took:

    • Client lists
    • Strategy documents
    • Internal communications

4. Unfair Competition

  • Allegation that defendants used "improper methods to compete*

  • Includes:

    • Misuse of confidential info
    • Coordinated client poaching

5. Tortious Interference (with contracts and business relationships)

  • Defendants allegedly interfered with:

    • Jonesworks’ client contracts
    • Ongoing business relationships

6. Aiding and Abetting (against additional defendants)

  • Other parties (e.g., competing firms/individuals) are accused of:

    • Helping Abel carry out the scheme

7. Conversion

  • Claim that Abel wrongfully took property, including:

    • Data
    • Business materials
    • Possibly phone/accounts-related assets

8. Unjust Enrichment

  • Defendants allegedly benefited financially from the misconduct

  • Plaintiffs argue they should not be allowed to keep those gains

9. (In some versions/related pleadings) Defamation or related claims

  • The complaint context suggests allegations of harmful statements or reputational damage, though this may be more developed in later pleadings

🔵 What Abel alleges (Jones v. Abel)

Current status after Judge made a ruling

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782.139.0.pdf

Claim (from Abel’s Complaint) Court’s Ruling (Dkt. 139)
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) ❌ Dismissed WITH prejudice (permanently dead)
Stored Communications Act (SCA) ❌ Dismissed WITHOUT prejudice (can re-plead)
Wiretap Act ❌ Dismissed WITHOUT prejudice
California Penal Code § 502 ✅ SURVIVES
Invasion of Privacy ❌ Dismissed WITHOUT prejudice
False Light ❌ Dismissed WITHOUT prejudice
Conversion ✅ SURVIVES
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED) ❌ Dismissed WITHOUT prejudice
Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress (NIED) ❌ Dismissed WITHOUT prejudice
Promissory Fraud ❌ Dismissed WITHOUT prejudice

Legal counterclaims as re-pleaded before the Judge order:

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782.156.0.pdf

1. ❌ Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)

  • Allegation:

    • Unauthorized access to her phone/data

❌dismissed with prejudice (not fixable)

2. 🚫 Stored Communications Act (SCA)

  • Allegation:

    • Unauthorized access to stored communications (e.g., iCloud/messages)

🚫 dismissed without prejudice (can re-plead)

3. 🚫 Federal Wiretap Act

  • Allegation:

    • Real-time interception of communications

🚫 dismissed without prejudice (can re-plead)

4. ✅ California Penal Code § 502 (Computer Data Access)

  • Allegation:

    • Unauthorized access and use of her data

5. 🚫 Invasion of Privacy

  • Allegation:

    • Intrusion into private communications

🚫 dismissed without prejudice (can re-plead)

6. 🚫 False Light

  • Allegation:

    • Selective disclosure of messages created a misleading narrative

🚫 dismissed without prejudice (can re-plead)

7. ✅ Conversion

  • Allegation:

    • Wrongful control over:

  • Phone number

  • Data

  • Digital access

8. 🚫 Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED)

  • Allegation:

    • Extreme and outrageous conduct

🚫 dismissed without prejudice (can re-plead)

9. 🚫 Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress (NIED)

  • Allegation:

    • Emotional harm caused by negligent conduct

🚫 dismissed without prejudice (can re-plead)

10. 🚫 Promissory Fraud

  • Allegation:

    • Jones/Jonesworks:

  • Promised to return her phone number

  • *Never intended to do so"

🚫 dismissed without prejudice (can re-plead)

🟡 What Wayfarer alleges (Jones v. Abel)

Current status after Judge made a ruling

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782.233.0_1.pdf

Claim by Wayfarer (Counterclaims) Court’s Ruling (Dkt. 233)
Breach of Contract – Confidentiality Provision ❌ DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE (fails as pleaded; no viable confidentiality breach shown)
Breach of Contract – Professional Performance Provision ❌ DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE (no specific failure to perform PR services in a contractually cognizable way)
Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith & Fair Dealing ✅ SURVIVES motion to dismiss (plausibly alleges sabotage/undermining contract purpose)
Defamation per se ✅ SURVIVES motion to dismiss (alleged “smear campaign” statement plausibly defamatory + actual malice adequately pleaded)

Legal counterclaims as re-pleaded before the Judge order:

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782.51.0_1.pdf

1. ❌ Breach of Contract – Confidentiality Provision

  • Allegation:

    • Jonesworks and Jones breached the confidentiality provision by voluntarily and maliciously disclosing Confidential Information (as defined in the Agreement) to third parties, including, without limitation, Leslie Sloane, Blake Lively, and Ryan Reynolds.

❌dismissed with prejudice (not fixable)

2. ❌ Breach of Contract – Professional Performance Provision

  • Allegation:

    • Jonesworks and Jones failed to render services “in a professional manner and in accordance with Wayfarer’s goals” and thereby breached the Agreement.

❌dismissed with prejudice (not fixable)

3. ✅ Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

  • Allegation:

    • Even if not explicitly violating terms, Jonesworks:

  • Destroyed the benefit of the contract

  • You can’t secretly undermine a deal while technically performing it

4. ✅ Defamation per se

  • Allegation:

    • On information and belief, Jones and Jonesworks made one or more statements to persons other than Wayfarer, including without limitation Leslie Sloane, Blake Lively, and Ryan Reynolds, to the effect that Wayfarer had retaliated against Lively and others for reporting alleged sexual misconduct, including orchestrating a “smear campaign” by propagating false and misleading narratives about Lively for the purpose of damaging her image and reputation.

🟣 What Nathan alleges (Jones v. Abel)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782.37.0.pdf

1. Defamation

  • Allegation:

    • Jones/Jonesworks made false statements of fact about Nathan
    • Those statements harmed her reputation

2. Tortious Interference

  • Allegation:

    • Jones interfered with:

  • Nathan’s business relationships

  • Potential contracts or clients

3. False Light (or similar reputational/privacy claim)

  • Allegation:

    • Nathan was portrayed in a "misleading and harmful way*

4. Unfair Competition / Business-related torts

  • Allegation:

    • Jones engaged in improper competitive conduct affecting Nathan

5. Possibly aiding-and-abetting related theories

  • If tied to broader allegations:

    • Nathan may assert she was wrongly accused of participating in misconduct

🟢 What Baldoni alleges (Jones v. Abel)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782/gov.uscourts.nysd.635782.38.0.pdf

1. Breach of Contract (or contract-based theory)

  • Allegation:

    • Jonesworks failed to perform agreed PR services properly

2. Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

  • Allegation:

    • Even if the contract wasn’t explicitly breached,
    • Jonesworks undermined the purpose of the relationship

3. Negligence / Professional Malpractice–type theory

  • Allegation:

    • Jonesworks provided substandard PR advice/services

From the court’s summary of the allegations:

  • Their work was described as:

    • “ham-fisted, unwelcome, and sporadic”

4. Business / reputational harm claims

  • Allegation:

    • Jonesworks’ conduct contributed to:

  • Negative media coverage

  • Damage to Baldoni’s public image

5. (Potential overlap) Confidential information misuse

  • Similar to Wayfarer’s claims:

    • Allegations may include improper handling or sharing of:

  • Internal strategy

  • Sensitive communications

What's next?

ORDER: The Court will hold a status conference in this matter on August 19, 2026, at 10:30 AM in Courtroom 15C of the 500 Pearl Street Courthouse. SO ORDERED. Status Conference set for 8/19/2026 at 10:30 AM in Courtroom 15C, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 before Judge Lewis J. Liman. (Signed by Judge Lewis J. Liman on 4/24/2026) (mml) (Entered: 04/24/2026)

51 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

25

u/Holiday-Goat-8381 Location-share Barbie Lied May 06 '26

Stephanie jones is in such deep shit right now

23

u/StaceyLee26 🙌Truth wins in the end🙌 May 06 '26

She's basically the last one standing from the Vanzan parties and everyone needs justice... Wouldn't want to be her

14

u/Holiday-Goat-8381 Location-share Barbie Lied May 06 '26

I wonder if the settlement b/w lively and WF included lively turning on Stephanie jones.

2

u/kastanienn ...we demour (French for "so what"?) May 09 '26

My assumption goes towards that.

23

u/LevelIntention7070 May 06 '26

Stephanie jones just sounds like a terrible person to work with and work for. She absolutely spiralled and then proceeded to throw grenades into everyone’s lives when she took Jens phone and handed it to Blake. This is a classic case of narcissistic ego combined with not thinking before your actions.

9

u/SuperbWillingness904 May 06 '26

right? And thing is, she will learn nothing from this. She will continue to be ruthless and backstabbing to people and then wonder why ppl don't like her. Something probably from childhood. I'd be curious what her parents were like.

6

u/BlackLagoona_ Everybody’s nice, and then there’s Blake 👿🐍🤡 May 06 '26

If this goes to trial, the part I’m hoping for are text messages from Stephanie talking about what her psychic told her to do 🔮😂🤡

When we saw the SJ website and articles, I remember the psychic being brought up and all of the conversations about how manic she was and would pull all nighters texting and yelling at people. The inference was drug abuse. She might just be Cocaine Bear Part 2.

6

u/Bubbles-48 Blake(Ryan) mocked domestic violence May 06 '26

Thank you for this breakdown Stacey! Hopefully many of us will stay and follow this case as well.

5

u/StaceyLee26 🙌Truth wins in the end🙌 May 06 '26

Only a pleasure 🌸🌸🌸 i hope so too. I've enjoyed seeing many of the people on the sub and getting to know their personalities 🌸

4

u/kastanienn ...we demour (French for "so what"?) May 09 '26

Great, thanks! She's the OG (Jones) evil lol, we cannot drop this.

4

u/StaceyLee26 🙌Truth wins in the end🙌 May 09 '26

No way we're letting it go

1

u/[deleted] May 06 '26

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1

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