Blake Lively has been awarded slightly more than $400,000 out of the $8 million she initially sought in legal fees from actor and director Justin Baldoni following the resolution of their dispute over their 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” as per a federal judge’s ruling on Wednesday.
In a written decision in Manhattan, Judge Lewis J. Liman detailed why Lively was not granted the full amount her attorneys claimed was spent after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, countered her lawsuit from December 2024.
Although acknowledging the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge rejected most of the legal fees she requested, citing a California law protecting survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions.
Liman clarified that the law only allowed reimbursement for expenses related to defending against defamation claims, rather than all claims made by Baldoni against Lively. Consequently, the judge determined that Lively is entitled to $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs.
Requests for comments from representatives of Baldoni and Lively have been sent.
In her lawsuit, Lively alleged instances of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.
Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside Lively in the film, denied the allegations of harassment or orchestrating a smear campaign, attributing them to Lively’s attempts to seize creative control of the movie.
Following Lively’s legal action, Baldoni and Wayfarer filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith, fair dealing, and economic interference. However, the court dismissed this countersuit, and Lively’s sexual harassment claims were subsequently rejected.
In a joint statement before a scheduled trial, Lively and Baldoni announced a settlement, emphasizing the importance of addressing Lively’s concerns and their commitment to creating safe work environments.
“It Ends With Us,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, was released in August 2024 and surpassed box office expectations despite criticism. The film’s success was overshadowed by the public fallout between Lively and Baldoni.
Lively’s lawsuit detailed instances where Baldoni allegedly made inappropriate comments, violated boundaries during filming, and pressured for nudity against her wishes. Baldoni maintained that his actions were within the boundaries of the filmmaking process.
Lively has appeared in various films and TV series, including “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and “Gossip Girl,” while Baldoni is known for his roles in “Jane the Virgin” and his work as a director and writer challenging traditional masculinity norms.