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AUnited States District Court judge has dismissed Justin Baldoni's high-profile countersuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, bringing an end to the $400m legal action regarding claims of defamation.
Judge Lewis J. Liman also included the dismissal of Baldoni's related $250 million defamation suit against The New York Times, marking a crushing blow to the ambitions of the director of It Ends With Us.
The lawsuit stemmed from allegations made by Lively in December 2024, when she filed a formal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department by accusing him of sexual harassment.
The project, based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel, premiered in August 2024 and was produced by Baldoni's Wayfarer Studios, and starred the Gossip Girl alumni in the role of Lily Bloom.
As per PageSix.com, Judge Liman stated in his ruling that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios "have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her [California Civil Rights Department] complaint, which are privileged."
This legal protection means that statements made in such official complaints are immune from defamation claims under U.S. law.
The court further addressed allegations made by Baldoni against other parties. The 41-year-old had claimed that Reynolds and Leslie Sloane, along with The New York Times, made additional defamatory statements implying sexual misconduct on his part. However, Judge Liman rejected these claims as well.
"The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Reynolds, Sloane or the 'Times' would have seriously doubted these statements were true," Liman further noted in the dismissal. "Based on the information available to them, as is required for them to be liable for defamation under applicable law."
Lively celebrates... But not out of the woods yet
Despite this decisive legal setback, Baldoni's legal team has until June 23 to amend specific claims related to breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract, claims that involve alleged violations of legal agreements and disruption of business relationships.
But in response to the ruling, Lively's attorneys Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb issued a strong statement celebrating the outcome, describing the ruling as a "total victory and a complete vindication" for the actress.
"As we have said from day one," Lively's representatives told Page Six. "This '$400 million' lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it.
"[We] look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys' fees, treble damages and punitive damages."
The conflict between Baldoni and Lively had escalated quickly following the debut of their t film project. Shortly after her initial complaint, Lively filed a separate lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and lost wages.
Baldoni, who is married to actress Emily, and shares two children with her, has publicly denied all allegations of misconduct.