NEED TO KNOW
- Justin Baldoni’s legal team has reacted to the latest development in Blake Lively’s legal case against her It Ends with Us director-costar
- On Thursday, April 2, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims against Baldoni, including those related to harassment
- “We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims,” said Baldoni’s legal team in a statement shared with PEOPLE
Justin Baldoni is responding to the recent shake-up in his legal battle with Blake Lively.
Judge Lewis J. Liman, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York, ruled on Thursday, April 2, on Baldoni’s bid to end the case involving his It Ends with Us costar, dismissing 10 of her 13 claims against him.
“We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel,” Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach of Shapiro Arato Bach said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
“These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided,” the statement concluded. “What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Ten of the 13 claims Lively, 38, filed against Baldoni, 42, following their behind-the-scenes conflict on the 2024 Colleen Hoover adaptation It Ends with Us, were thrown out in Judge Liman’s latest decision. These dismissed claims included those related to harassment, defamation and conspiracy. Lively’s breach of contract claim and a FEHA retaliation claim against Baldoni’s company Wayfarer Studios will still move forward to trial.
Related Stories
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni: Could They Still Settle Their ‘It Ends With Us’ Case? (Exclusive)
The two costars’ conflict began in December 2024, when the Gossip Girl actress filed a sexual-harassment complaint against Baldoni, alleging misconduct on the set of the romantic drama and a retaliatory smear campaign.
The director-star, who has denied the allegations, filed counterclaims against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, involving allegations of extortion and defamation that were dismissed by Judge Liman in June 2025; Baldoni’s legal team opted out of refiling amended versions of those claims.
Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively’s legal team, also reacted to the April 2 ruling, pointing out in a statement shared with PEOPLE that the actress’ sexual harassment claim against Baldoni “isn’t going forward not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee.”
Our new app is here! Free, fun and full of exclusives. Scan to download now!
Judge Liman’s new ruling follows a Feb. 11 court-mandated settlement conference with Baldoni and Lively, which ended without an agreement. Attorneys for both actors have stated that they plan to testify during the trial scheduled to begin on May 18 in New York.
Who Is Jana Duggar’s Husband? 3 Things to Know About Stephen WissmannClose
Also Read : Aretha Franklin Told Jill Scott to Get Her ‘2 Hot Dogs with Cooked Onions and Mustard’ When They Met
