In brief
Justin Baldoni's multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively has been dismissed by a judge due to missed deadlines. The legal battle, stemming from allegations of sexual harassment and defamation, has been ongoing since 2024. Only Lively has responded to the final ruling, while Baldoni's claims remain unresolved as Lively's lawsuit against him persists.
Justin Baldoni's $400m (£295m) lawsuit against his former co-star Blake Lively has been formally ended by a judge, who said the actor and director had failed to meet a deadline to continue his claim.
The pair, who starred in the 2024 film It Ends with Us, have been locked in a bitter legal battle since Lively sued Baldoni last December accusing him of sexual harassment and waging a smear campaign against her.
In response, he filed a lawsuit against her as well as her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist and the New York Times, claiming civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy.
Baldoni's case was dismissed in June, but he had a chance to file an amended complaint. However, Judge Lewis Liman said he had failed to do so.
The judge stated he had contacted all parties on 17 October to warn them that he would enter a final judgment to conclude the case. Only Lively responded, asking for the final judgment to be declared, requesting her legal fee application remain active, which the judge accepted.
Her original lawsuit against Baldoni continues.
After Baldoni's case dismissal in June, the actress's legal team hailed it a total victory and a complete vindication. Baldoni's lawyer suggested that Lively's declaration was erroneous, maintaining confidence in their position.
Yet, those revised claims were never filed, leading to the latest court ruling against Baldoni. Neither Baldoni nor his production company, Wayfarer, have yet commented on the dismissals.
In June, Judge Liman clarified that Baldoni's lawsuit focused on claims that Lively stole the film from him and his production company by threatening not to promote it. However, the court found that he had not provided sufficient evidence to support accusations of wrongful extortion or defamation.
Additionally, the judge noted that the New York Times did not act with malice in their reporting, which led to the dismissal of the $250m lawsuit against them as well.
