Justin Baldoni's $400 million countersuit against Blake Lively has been dismissed by a US judge, marking a significant setback for the actor in the ongoing legal battle stemming from the film It Ends With Us. The ruling, issued by Judge Lewis J Liman, found that Lively's allegations of sexual harassment were made within privileged court papers and thus could not form the basis of a defamation claim.
The judge also dismissed claims against Lively's husband Ryan Reynolds, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times, which had been sued for $250 million over its reporting on the allegations. In his 132-page opinion, Judge Liman stated that the plaintiffs had not adequately alleged that Reynolds, Sloane, or the Times had serious doubts about the truth of their statements, a requirement for defamation liability.
Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios had accused Lively of civil extortion, but the judge ruled that their allegations did not meet the legal standard. 'Lively, Sloane, and Reynolds have the better of the argument,' the judge wrote, noting that the alleged actions amounted to 'hard bargaining' rather than extortion.
However, the judge allowed Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios until June 23, 2025 to file a second amended complaint, limited to claims of tortious interference with contract and breach of implied covenant. Requests by Reynolds, Sloane, and Lively for attorney's fees and costs were denied without prejudice.
A statement from Lively's lawyers described the ruling as 'a total victory and a complete vindication.' Representatives for Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have been contacted for comment.
