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On Monday, a judge dismissed Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.
Baldoni accused Lively of defamation, claiming she “falsely” pointed fingers at him for sexual harassment to fix her public image after controversies during the “It Ends With Us” press tour, where she allegedly took charge of the film.
“The Wayfarer Parties haven’t claimed that Lively is responsible for any statements apart from those in her CRD complaint, which are protected,” wrote Judge Lewis Liman in an opinion shared with Fox News Digital. “They alleged that Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane made statements accusing Baldoni of sexual misconduct and that the Times made further statements accusing the Wayfarer Parties of running a smear campaign. However, they did not establish that Reynolds, Sloane, or the Times had any reason to doubt the truth of these statements, which is necessary for defamation claims under the law.”
“The Wayfarer Parties’ other claims also fail,” added the judge. “Therefore, the Amended Complaint is completely dismissed.”
BLAKE LIVELY DROPS EMOTIONAL DISTRESS CLAIMS AGAINST JUSTIN BALDONI
Monday saw the dismissal of Justin Baldoni’s countersuit against Blake Lively. (Getty Images)
In December, Lively made accusations of sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, among others against Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath in a complaint initially filled with the California Civil Rights Department that was later moved to federal court.
Baldoni filed his own lawsuit in January, asserting that Lively made “false” accusations to restore her image after issues arose from the film’s press tour, after she purportedly took control of the project. Baldoni’s legal team argued that Lively had no proof of a smear campaign and was merely attempting to rehabilitate her reputation by accusing him and others of sexual harassment.
BLAKE LIVELY DENOUNCES JUSTIN BALDONI’S ‘SINISTER CAMPAIGN’ AGAINST HER, REQUESTS LAWSUIT DISMISSAL
Both Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively sought to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit. (Udo Salters/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
“Today’s ruling is a complete victory and a total vindication for Blake Lively, as well as for anyone whom Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties targeted in their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times,” stated Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, to Fox News Digital. “From the beginning, we claimed this $400 million lawsuit was a façade, and the Court recognized it.”
“We are eager for the next phase, which is to pursue attorney fees, triple damages, and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who engaged in this abusive litigation.”
Fox News Digital has reached out for comments from Baldoni’s representatives.
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Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment. (Getty Images)
Lively’s legal team sought the dismissal of Baldoni’s lawsuit in March.
“In short, nothing in the FAC [first amended complaint] resembles a valid legal claim. It is, instead, a blunt public relations tool designed to further the Wayfarer Parties’ sinister campaign to ‘bury’ and ‘destroy’ Ms. Lively for speaking out against sexual harassment and retaliation,” read the motion obtained by Fox News Digital.
“The Court should dismiss the FAC and, as per California law, initiate further proceedings to determine an appropriate award for Ms. Lively’s attorney fees, triple damages for the harm inflicted by this baseless lawsuit, and punitive damages against each of the Wayfarer Parties.”
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Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni filmed “It Ends With Us” in 2023. (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Judge Liman set June 23 as the deadline for Baldoni’s legal team to file an amended complaint against Lively. However, the actor may only update allegations related to claims of tortious interference with contract and breach of implied covenant.
Both Baldoni and Lively previously expressed their intent to avoid settling their legal conflict outside the courtroom. In a letter filed in February, their legal teams noted that “the parties concur that mediation and the Discovery Protocols… are inappropriate for this case.”
