Updated June 12, 2026, 3:35 p.m. ET
Blake Lively has scored a victory in her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
Judge Lewis Liman made a ruling Friday, June 12, in federal court ordering Baldoni, 42, to pay his former “It Ends with Us” costar’s legal costs and fees relating to his 2025 defamation lawsuit, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY. However, the judge denied Lively’s request for any damages.
The actress, 38, took Baldoni back to court earlier this month, citing a new California law, Section 47.1, that aims to protect those who file harassment complaints from retaliatory defamation suits. Her efforts stemmed from Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios’ $400 million legal action against Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times, which a judge dismissed in November.
Lively asked to be rewarded all compensatory damages provided under the statute, including attorneys’ costs and fees incurred to defend herself in the litigation, along with punitive damages and treble damages – a penalty that would triple the amount of any actual damages awarded.
In a letter to Liman, Baldoni’s attorney Ellyn S. Garofalo wrote that “there is no authority to support the notion” that the California statute backing Lively’s claims “can be used to do an end run around a plaintiff or defendant’s right to a jury trial.” Garofalo added that “since Lively has dismissed her claims, and relinquished her right to appeal,” she isn’t entitled to damages.
In his ruling, Liman agreed with both parties in part, stating “there is no evidence of malice” in Lively’s statements about Baldoni and Wayfarer as they alleged, so she is entitled to attorneys’ costs. Liman further explained that the California law “does not create an end run around the entire set of carefully crafted federal procedural rules designed to protect the rights of the parties,” so Lively’s request for damages were denied.
Lively still holds the right to seek damages under the California law in an independent lawsuit or counterclaim, including in federal court. The exact amount of attorneys’ costs and fees owed has not yet been revealed.
Lively’s attorneys Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb addressed the ruling in a statement to USA TODAY: “Today’s ruling makes it clear that Ms. Lively brought her claims in good faith, that there was no evidence she acted with malice, and that she is the prevailing defendant under Section 47.1. The Court is awarding Ms. Lively attorneys’ fees and costs and has explained that a prevailing defendant under Section 47.1 may seek damages using different procedural mechanisms.”
“The parties’ settlement agreement expressly preserves Ms. Lively’s rights to obtain those damages. Ms. Lively is gratified that her lawsuit shows how Section 47.1 and laws like it create a path for survivors to hold accountable those who weaponize online attacks and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors.”
In their own statement, Baldoni’s attorney Brian Freedman said, “We fought and won against a coordinated effort built on allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and a smear campaign that never happened. Ms. Lively demanded over 300 million in fees and damages, had 10 of her 13 claims dismissed, she then chose to settle and received nothing.” “Notwithstanding that all of her sexual harassment and defamation claims were thrown out by the court, Ms. Lively then pivoted to exploit a California law that was established to protect real victims in what proved to be a fruitless mission to obtain damages. Once again, she failed.” “My clients got blindsided by a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and was threatened by one of the most famous movie stars, who tried to rip away their life’s work and pristine reputations,” the statement continued. “Not only were we successful in exposing the truth of their actions, but by the consistent dissemination of facts and evidence, we made sure that justice prevailed.” “Ms. Lively was only awarded limited attorney fees for a single claim as part of a case that lasted only a matter of months, nothing more,” Freedman concluded. “Throughout this process, innocent people had their reputations unfairly tarnished. There was no sexual harassment. There was no retaliation. There was no smear campaign. The court recognized it, the record reflects it, and we have maintained it from the very beginning. We would not hesitate to stand up for the truth again.”
A look back at Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal battle
This judgement comes after a series of legal proceedings between the former costars. Lively first sued Baldoni and Wayfarer in December 2024 over claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, alleging that Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of domestic violence drama “It Ends with Us” and helped orchestrate a smear campaign against her.
Baldoni filed a countersuit in January 2025 for civil extortion, defamation and false light. The judge ultimately ruled in favor of the “Gossip Girl” alum and dismissed the suit entirely.
Over the next year, the pair continued their fight over Lively’s case, with the judge dismissing all but three of her 16 causes of action on April 2. On May 4, just days before they were set to go to trial, Baldoni and Lively reached a settlement.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
