Court Dismisses Most of Blake Lively's Lawsuits Against Justin Baldoni
A federal judge has made a significant ruling in the case involving actress Blake Lively, dismissing the majority of her lawsuits against her co-star from the film 'Leave If You Love.' This decision, reported by The Guardian, addresses serious allegations that Lively made against Baldoni, including accusations of sexual harassment.
On April 2, Judge Lewis Liman ruled that 10 out of the 13 claims in Lively's lawsuit were dismissed. Among the dismissed allegations were serious charges such as sexual harassment, conspiracy, and defamation. Consequently, only claims related to breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation remain for consideration in court.
According to Lively's attorneys, a key reason for the dismissal of part of the lawsuit was the recognition that the actress was not an employee but an independent contractor. This distinction means that she does not fall under the relevant harassment protection laws that typically apply to employees.
Despite this, the court allowed the continuation of claims regarding potential smear campaigns. Lively asserts that Justin Baldoni was behind an online campaign that spread negative stories about her. The actress's attorney, Sigrid McCauley, stated, 'This case has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and extraordinary steps taken by the defendants to destroy Blake Lively's reputation as she advocated for safety on set.'
The trial for the remaining claims is set to begin in May 2026, following unsuccessful attempts at pre-trial settlement. It is important to note that in December 2024, Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. She claims that the actor and director 'kissed, hugged, and touched' her without her consent and allegedly made negative comments about her weight.
Following these allegations, The New York Times published an article claiming that Baldoni's publicists deliberately discredited the actress on social media. They attempted to exploit Lively's relationships with her co-stars from other projects to undermine her reputation, including references to Leighton Meester, with whom Lively starred in the series 'Gossip Girl,' Anna Kendrick, her co-star in 'A Simple Favor,' and Ben Affleck, her partner in the film 'The Town.'
In response to the allegations, Justin Baldoni filed a lawsuit against the newspaper and Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation. The actor claimed that Lively allegedly stole a film from him and his company Wayfarer by threatening not to promote it, and that she spread false stories about him sexually harassing her and initiating a smear campaign against her.
In June 2025, Judge Lewis Liman dismissed Baldoni's lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, as well as against The New York Times. Industry attorneys have already stated that this lawsuit is damaging to both parties. As former entertainment attorney and Puck reporter Matthew Belloni noted, 'This does not help either of them. The longer this goes on and the more dirt they throw at each other, the more harm it does to both of them.'