Actor and director Justin Baldoni’s legal battle against his co-star Blake Lively has come to a halt. A judge dismissed the lawsuit after Baldoni failed to refile his claims by the required deadline.
Dismissal of Lawsuit
U.S. District Court Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni’s case against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist. This decision followed Baldoni’s previous attempts to countersue Lively for defamation, seeking $400 million in damages.
Background
- Baldoni filed two lawsuits against Lively in June after she accused him of sexual harassment and retaliation.
- His production company, Wayfarer Studios, joined him in the countersuit.
- They claimed Lively and the New York Times were part of a coordinated smear campaign against him.
Trial Developments
Initially, Judge Liman dismissed the defamation claims, citing that allegations made in a lawsuit are exempt from libel. He allowed Baldoni to amend claims regarding contract interference and set a deadline for June 23 to refile these claims.
Despite these opportunities, Baldoni’s legal team did not meet the deadline. A court order on October 31 confirmed that they failed to respond when contacted regarding the final judgment. Only Lively replied, requesting that the ruling be expedited and for her legal fees to be considered.
Future Legal Actions
Baldoni retains the right to appeal the defamation judgment. The outcome of this appeal will depend on Lively’s ongoing claim for legal fees. The actors are also scheduled to appear in a New York court in March 2026 concerning Lively’s original allegations of sexual harassment against Baldoni on the set of the 2024 film.
