Blake Lively Scores Legal Win Against Justin Baldoni in Film Dispute

Blake Lively has achieved a partial legal victory over Justin Baldoni in their ongoing dispute related to the film 'It Ends With Us.' A judge ruled that Lively can recover some legal costs, although her requests for punitive damages were denied. The ruling comes after both parties settled most of their disagreements just before a trial was set to begin. The legal conflict began when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, leading to a countersuit from Baldoni. The court dismissed Baldoni's countersuit and Lively's harassment claims. The film, based on Colleen Hoover's novel, was released in August 2024 and performed well at the box office.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 13, 2026, 19:26 IST

Legal Developments in the Lively-Baldoni Case

Blake Lively has secured a partial legal victory over Justin Baldoni concerning their legal battles related to the 2024 film It Ends With Us. A judge in the United States ruled on Friday that Lively is eligible to reclaim some of her legal expenses from Baldoni, although her requests for punitive damages and further relief were turned down. This decision follows a settlement of most of their disputes just before a trial was set to begin.

Judge Lewis J Liman issued a written ruling indicating that Lively could recover legal fees linked to her defense against a countersuit from Baldoni, which came after her initial lawsuit against him in December 2024. The judge cited a California statute designed to protect victims of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions meant to intimidate them. Under this law, a plaintiff must pay the defendant's legal fees if a defamation claim made in response to a lawsuit is dismissed, unless malice is proven, which Baldoni did not establish.

While Lively achieved a partial victory, the judge dismissed her requests for triple damages and punitive damages under California law, stating that these claims did not comply with federal procedural regulations meant to protect the rights of all parties involved. Most of the legal issues between Lively and Baldoni were resolved last month, just as the trial concerning Lively’s retaliation claims was about to commence.

Following the ruling, both parties portrayed the outcome as favorable. Lively's legal representatives highlighted that the award of legal fees affirmed her good faith in pursuing the claims and confirmed the absence of malice on her part. In contrast, Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, argued that Lively did not prevail in her claims, asserting that innocent individuals had their reputations unfairly damaged and that the court acknowledged the lack of evidence for sexual harassment or retaliation.

The legal conflict began in late 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, claiming he tried to damage her public image. Baldoni responded with allegations that Lively fabricated her claims to gain creative control over the film, filing a countersuit against her and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion. The court dismissed Baldoni's countersuit last year and also dismissed Lively's sexual harassment claims weeks ago.

It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover’s acclaimed novel about a relationship affected by domestic violence, was released in August 2024 and achieved significant box office success.