A federal judge has thrown out the majority of Blake Lively's claims against Justin Baldoni, dismissing 10 of the 13 claims in her lawsuit. The ruling by Judge Lewis Liman on Thursday struck down allegations of sexual harassment, conspiracy and defamation, leaving only three claims to proceed to trial.
The remaining claims are breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation. The case will now focus on Lively's assertion that Baldoni orchestrated a retaliatory campaign to spread negative stories about her online. Lively's attorney, Sigrid McCawley, stated that the sexual harassment claims were dismissed because Lively was deemed an independent contractor, not an employee.
Lively had accused Baldoni of inappropriate behaviour during the filming of It Ends With Us, including unwanted kissing and comments about her appearance. The film, released in 2024, was a box office success but became overshadowed by legal disputes. Last June, Lively withdrew two emotional distress claims, and Judge Liman also dismissed Baldoni's $400m defamation counterclaim against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
The case has revealed private messages between Lively and celebrities such as Taylor Swift, in which Lively referred to Baldoni as a 'doofus director'. The trial is scheduled for May after mediation failed last month.
