The essentials
Judge orders Baldoni to pay Lively's legal fees; dismisses most claims and his $400M defamation suit.
A New York judge has ordered Justin Baldoni to pay Blake Lively's legal fees following their settlement of the It Ends With Us legal dispute. The court dismissed Baldoni's $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, while also dismissing most of Lively's original claims against the actor and director.
In her ruling, the judge denied Lively's request for punitive and treble damages, limiting the financial outcome of the case. The settlement concludes litigation that began when Lively sued Baldoni over allegations of sexual harassment on the set of the film adaptation.
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Mutual claims largely dismissed; fee-shifting favors Lively
The court dismissed Baldoni's $400 million defamation lawsuit entirely and dismissed most of Lively's original claims. However, the judge ordered Baldoni to pay Lively's legal fees, partially vindicating her position. The denial of punitive damages limited the financial scope of the ruling.
Dispute resolved with limited damages and shared legal responsibility
The settlement concludes the It Ends With Us litigation that began with Lively's allegations of sexual harassment on set. While most claims were dismissed, the fee award reflects the court's assessment of merit. The case resolution ends public litigation between the parties without substantial damages awarded to either side.