

Gavel Gavel
Thomas Smith
Gavel Gavel is the podcast that takes you inside the courtroom! Comedian Thomas Smith asks questions and cracks jokes while real legal experts with actual trial experience provide unique analysis.
Episodes
Mentioned books

10 snips
Jul 1, 2025 • 59min
Lively v. Baldoni 24 - Jen Abel KIDNAPPED! MISSING AND PRESUMED PHONELESS.
In a whirlwind of debates, tensions flare over Jen Abel's kidnapping claims and the challenges of her counter-suit. The crew humorously navigates phone dilemmas surrounding personal and work contacts while exploring the chaos of a missing device. A confrontation with legal repercussions reveals betrayal in the workplace, raising questions about privacy and trust. They dive into the intricate dynamics among key figures, exposing potential ulterior motives. Plus, a keen look at how personal biases fuel conspiracy theories rounds out the thought-provoking conversation.

6 snips
Jul 1, 2025 • 55min
Lively v. Baldoni 23 - Her Disarming Southern Twang
Get ready for a deep dive into the wild legal battle of Jones v. Abel, where the hosts dissect Stephanie Jones's and Jennifer Abel's contrasting narratives. Explore jaw-dropping courtroom strategies and the impact of California labor laws on workplace dynamics. Discover the chaos at Jones Works, filled with high turnover and toxic culture. Plus, they unravel the media’s role in framing the allegations against Jones, revealing how personal conflicts can spiral into public drama. Don't miss the quirky nicknames and teasers for upcoming dark tales!

Jun 5, 2025 • 54min
Lively v. Baldoni 22 - The Great Subpoena Mystery SOLVED. - with MJ Morley
MJ Morley, a savvy New York lawyer, brings intriguing legal insights about the Blake Lively case. He unpacks the complexities of a mysterious subpoena, revealing new findings no one else has noticed. The conversation dives into the identity challenges surrounding the entity Van Zand and assesses the legitimacy of a New York lawsuit. Morley also discusses the legal maneuvers in celebrity cases, highlighting the ethical dilemmas posed by media narratives and the public's misunderstandings of legal processes. A captivating peek into the legal underbelly of high-profile drama!

Jun 3, 2025 • 47min
Lively v. Baldoni 21 - The Contract Was neither Implied, nor in Fact. And It Wasn’t a Contract.
GG21 - Part 21 of LvB is Part 11 of Wayfarer et al v The New York Times The FINAL part of Baldoni et al v. NYT! FINALLLY. Attorney Anne Linder takes us through the final 3 causes of action.

Jun 1, 2025 • 52min
Lively v. Baldoni 20 - Baldoni v. NYT v. Sullivan
GG20 - Part 20 of LvB is Part 10 of Wayfarer et al v The New York Times Now that we've finished the... facts... it's time to actually analyze the law, and to do that, we're going to summon our attorney Anne Linder! How do the legal claims in this complaint stack up? Is there any there there?

May 25, 2025 • 59min
Lively v. Baldoni 19 - He’s Trying the Pumping Text a 3rd Time and We’re in Literal Hell
GG19 - Part 19 of LvB is Part 9 of Wayfarer et al v The New York Times We've made it! The last parts of this complaint actually talk about The New York Times (you know, the defendant in this case) a little and we give our closing thoughts on the Wayfarer's telling of this whole story. Next up: LAWYER PORTAL! This is the complaint we're working from if you want to follow along. Support the show, get rid of ads, and get bonus stuff over on patreon.com/gavelpod! This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.

May 25, 2025 • 1h 16min
Lively v. Baldoni 18 - What She Promised the Cast Remains Unclear
GG18 - Part 18 of LvB is Part 8 of Wayfarer et al v The New York Times We're getting closer and closer! Join us as we examine a number of 'graphs related to the editing bay, the different versions of the film, and other post-production goings-on, including Sony's response throughout. We also talk about the premiere from Baldoni's perspective from the theater's basement, and his engagement with Melissa Nathan's The Agency Group to manage crisis PR in the fallout post-premiere. There's a ton to talk about in this one! This is the complaint we're working from if you want to follow along. Support the show, get rid of ads, and get bonus stuff over on patreon.com/gavelpod! This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.

May 24, 2025 • 56min
Lively v. Baldoni 17 - Signing a 17-Point List + Calling the 30-Point Version "Defamation" = Boy Math
GG17 - Part 17 of LvB is Part 7 of Wayfarer et al v The New York Times That's right! Let's hear how the Wayfarer folks present the 17-point list from Blake Lively's lawyers during the filming of It Ends With Us. Before we get into the attorney-drafted protections for return to production, we also dig into the Wayfarer spin on the circumstances when Lively alleged Baldoni and Heath did not respect her privacy in her trailer while she was breastfeeding and pumping. This is the complaint we're working from if you want to follow along. Support the show, get rid of ads, and get bonus stuff over on patreon.com/gavelpod! This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.

May 24, 2025 • 1h 1min
Lively v. Baldoni 16 - An Increasingly Aggressive and Erratic Effort to Control the Production
GG16 - Part 16 of LvB is Part 6 of Wayfarer et al v The New York Times We dig into some key defenses from the Wayfarer parties, including Baldoni's intentions in asking a trainer on the film about Lively's weight, Lively's supposed production "takeover" through script revisions (and how her husband, Ryan Reynolds, was involved with those pages), as well as Wayfarer's position regarding Lively's concerns about the intimacy coordinator's involvement during filming. Stay for the outro to hear some extra digging! This is the complaint we're working from if you want to follow along. Support the show, get rid of ads, and get bonus stuff over on patreon.com/gavelpod! This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.

May 23, 2025 • 1h 2min
Lively v. Baldoni 15 - Blake Livelys Hate This One Weird Trick to Double Your Evidence by Repeating It
GG15 - Part 15 of LvB is Part 5 of Wayfarer et al v The New York Times We've made it through...the INTRODUCTION! There's plenty more to dig into, and this episode focuses on the behavior during post-production between the parties. Complete with more screenshots! Some are even legible! This is the complaint we're working from if you want to follow along. Support the show, get rid of ads, and get bonus stuff over on patreon.com/gavelpod! This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.