Blake Lively pursues legal fees and damages from Justin Baldoni after settlement

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New York: Blake Lively continues her legal battle with Justin Baldoni, demanding compensation for legal fees and further damages despite the fact that the two reached an agreement last month over their dispute over the 2024 film It Ends With Us.

Lively's lawyers argued in a petition before a federal court in Manhattan that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, should pay both punitive and compensatory damages as well as repay her legal fees for what they called a ‘retaliatory’ defamation complaint. The court hearing the case dismissed that countersuit, which sought $400 million in damages.

The conflict started in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment when It Ends With Us was being produced. She added that Baldoni planned a campaign to harm her reputation after she voiced concerns. After denying the accusations, Baldoni sued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and other persons for defamation.

Lively's legal team contends she has a right to lawyers' costs and additional damages under a California law that protects persons who report sexual harassment from retaliatory defamation lawsuits. Her lawyers believe that, as the prevailing defendant in Baldoni's dismissed action, she is entitled to compensation.

Baldoni's counsel rejected the request, claiming that the May settlement should have concluded the dispute and that further hearings would effectively reopen a closed matter. The judge has yet to decide whether Lively is entitled to the costs and damages she is seeking.