In the latest news from the courtroom, Blake Lively’s team has announced a complete win after the federal judge released Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit against her.
On June 9, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman decided to remove Baldoni’s huge countersuit from the case. Lively and others such as her husband Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane were accused by his case of spreading false information and making threats of further actions.
A Fight Over Legal Cases
It all started in December 2024, when Blake Lively took Baldoni to court, saying he had harassed her and retaliated at work. He responded quickly by suing back, asking for $400 million since he felt that the accusations were false and had damaged his name and career.
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Besides, Baldoni also filed a separate lawsuit for defamation against The New York Times after they published a harsh exposé titled “We Can Bury Anyone”: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine. The author of the article, according to him, took his private messages out of context.
Judge Liman decided on Monday that Baldoni’s lawsuit could not be upheld by the law. In the judge’s opinion, most the statements Baldoni cited should be protected because they fit into categories of legal privilege or because they weren’t backed by enough evidence for defamation.
Members of Lively’s legal team have come forward to comment.
When news came out, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, who represent Blake Lively, gave a very strong reaction.
They wrote in their statement that today’s decision gives Blake Lively a complete vindication. The court realized from the very beginning that this lawsuit was not genuine.
They mentioned that they want to file additional lawsuits against Baldoni and his business partners, Steve Sarowitz and Melissa Nathan, and claim both attorneys’ fees and extra damages from them.
The lawyers also noted that they are eager for the next phase of the case.
There are still Loopholes in the Legal System
Most of Baldoni’s allegations were not accepted by Judge Liman, but he still made room for a slim possibility.
The judge ordered Baldoni’s team to revise and refile their claims of breach of implied covenant and tortious interference, allowing only until June 23 for them to finish the process.
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Even so, legal experts say that these options won’t be very effective considering the judge’s strongly worded ruling.
According to Liman, “The entire Amended Complaint should be dismissed” as there is no clear proof that Lively, Reynolds, or Sloane knowingly lied about Baldoni.
Ryan Reynolds and The Times have made their apology.
Baldoni’s case also included Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her longtime publicist Leslie Sloane, as both were accused of continuing to spread such claims.
The judge also pointed out that Baldoni’s team had not proven that Reynolds or Sloane took part in defamation with “actual malice,” so there was no legal basis to make the accusation against them as a public figure.
Regarding The New York Times, the judge found that the publication was correct, since Baldoni couldn’t prove that they had published the private messages on purpose.
What’s Next?
So far, Baldoni’s camp has made no official statement, but sources state that they are discussing their options with lawyers. Nevertheless, the full dismissal is viewed as a big obstacle to their efforts.
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Apparently, Blake Lively is trying to heal and move ahead with her life. It is said in the news that she hopes the decision brings comfort and encourages her efforts to improve safety on movie sets.
A friend of the actress claimed that she stood up for herself, and everything she did has been proven right.
Fans are happy with the judge’s decision, since they have been following the case and backing Lively on social media all along.