Justin Baldoni After Court Victory
Blake Lively seeks over $8 million in legal fees from Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios following the dismissal of their high-stakes defamation lawsuit against her.
The Legal Showdown Intensifies
Blake Lively has officially requested more than $8 million in attorneys’ fees and litigation costs from Justin Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and other parties involved in the now-dismissed $400 million defamation case they brought against her.
The dispute traces back to the production of It Ends With Us, a film directed by Baldoni, who also appeared on-screen alongside Lively. In her original complaints, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set and alleged that Wayfarer Studios retaliated against her after she voiced concerns about misconduct. Baldoni has steadfastly denied all allegations. Lively first went public with her accusations in December 2024, roughly four months after the film debuted in theaters. She initiated the legal process with a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department and later escalated the matter by filing a federal lawsuit.
What Lively’s Lawyers Are Arguing
In a motion filed on Tuesday, Lively’s legal team contends that Baldoni’s lawsuit was never about seeking legitimate legal redress. Instead, they argue, it was a calculated move to punish Lively for reporting alleged sexual harassment and retaliation to state authorities.
Her attorneys further claim that the defendants leveraged the litigation to:
- Portray Lively as dishonest
- Intimidate potential witnesses
- Fuel a coordinated public relations campaign against her
- Artificially inflate the cost of her legal defense
Key Court Rulings and Legal Protections
Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed most of Lively’s claims against Baldoni, including those related to harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. However, the two sides reached a settlement agreement in May.
Tuesday’s filing emphasizes the court’s dismissal of the complaint, its conclusion that several claims were legally baseless, and its ruling that Lively’s statements regarding the alleged misconduct fell under protections afforded by California law. Judge Liman had previously thrown out Baldoni’s defamation and extortion claims against Lively but permitted her to pursue financial recovery under California Civil Code Section 47.1—a statute designed to shield individuals who report sexual misconduct from retaliatory defamation suits.
The Price Tag: $8 Million and Counting
Lively’s legal team asserts that the law requires reimbursement for defense costs, given that the legal work across various claims was deeply intertwined. They are seeking approximately $7,495,526.87 in attorneys’ fees and an additional $539,514.01 in litigation expenses.
A Precedent-Setting Moment
In a statement to NBC News, Lively’s attorneys, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, framed the case as a turning point:
“Thanks to this landmark decision, those considering using a lawsuit as a weapon of intimidation have been put on notice that there are consequences for doing so. The value of this ruling is in the precedent it creates, the accountability it imposes, and the protection it provides to those who may one day find themselves facing similar retaliation for speaking the truth.”
The filing also defends the billing rates charged by Lively’s legal teams at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Manatt, noting they are consistent with standard rates in high-stakes, complex litigation.
What Happens Next
The Wayfarer parties are expected to file their response by July 13. Representatives for Baldoni did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.