Blake Lively was awarded approximately $400,000 in legal fees and court costs following the conclusion of her intense 18-month legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman ruled in Manhattan federal court that while Lively was entitled to reimbursement after defending against Baldoni’s dismissed defamation countersuit, her initial request of $8 million was significantly unreasonable.
The payout marks the final resolution of a high-profile dispute that originated from on-set allegations of sexual harassment made by Lively against Baldoni and his production house, Wayfarer Studios. Baldoni countered with a defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. After reaching a private settlement to avoid a federal trial, Lively’s legal team filed for $7.5 million in attorneys’ fees and $540,000 in court costs under a California anti-retaliation statute.
The Judge’s Ruling: Judge Liman ruled that while hourly attorney billing rates were fair, the overall number of hours claimed was excessive.
Baldoni’s Defense Response: Legal representation for Baldoni called the ruling a major win, noting Lively received less than 5% of her total ask.
Lively’s Legal Team: Representatives for Lively emphasized the ruling’s historic nature as the first time fee recovery was awarded under the California statute.
The ruling permanently closes the legal chapter surrounding the 2024 film drama. With court proceedings officially concluded, both parties are moving forward under the terms of their undisclosed private settlement.
