A federal judge in New York ordered the production company of filmmaker Justin Baldoni to pay actress Blake Lively approximately $400,000 in legal costs. The two parties privately settled their dispute following the conclusion of the employment lawsuit. This amount represents a fraction of the $8 million in fees and expenses that Lively’s legal team initially sought.
Judge’s Ruling on Fees and Costs
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman entered the judgment on Wednesday. Liman awarded Lively $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206.35 in costs. The Trump appointee determined that Lively was not entitled to any compensatory or punitive damages as part of the final resolution.
Judge Liman ordered the payment from Baldoni’s company, but Liman applied a narrower scope than what was requested. The judge specifically excluded time spent on media relations, such as strategizing communications and client appearances. Liman found that these activities were not integral to legally defending the defamation claim brought against Lively.
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“Media relations were not integral to defending the defamation claim brought against Lively,” Liman wrote. “Accordingly, time spent on media relations and general press coverage is not compensable for the defense of such claims.”
Case Background and Allegations
The dispute centers on the production of the 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” a project based on a novel about an abusive relationship. Lively accused Baldoni, who directed and produced the film, of sexual harassment during filming.
However, Lively’s original complaint underwent significant changes before trial. In April, a federal judge dismissed 10 of the 13 causes of action she filed against Baldoni. The dismissed counts included allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and civil conspiracy.
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The lawsuit was filed under California Civil Code Section 47.1, a law designed to protect accusers from retaliatory defamation lawsuits by imposing penalties on losing parties.
Counterclaims and Dismissal
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, praised the ruling as a victory. The lawyer stated the decision sends a clear message that powerful figures cannot use the law for personal gain or harassment.
In response to the underlying lawsuit, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation counterclaim against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds. The filmmaker alleged a conspiracy to “destroy” him and “hijack” the film’s premiere. That counterclaim was fully dismissed last summer by the court.
