Blake Lively Awarded Just a Fraction of the $8 Million She Sought From Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively Awarded Just a Fraction of the $8 Million She Sought From Justin Baldoni
NEW YORK — Blake Lively has suffered a significant legal setback after a federal judge rejected most of the $8 million in legal fees she had asked Justin Baldoni to cover following their highly publicized legal battle.
Judge Lewis J. Liman ordered Baldoni to pay Lively $363,245.40 in attorney fees and $44,206.35 in costs, for a total of about $407,452 — roughly 5% of the amount she originally requested.
Judge Criticizes the $8 Million Request
Lively’s legal team had sought more than $8 million in connection with Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit and related legal proceedings.
However, Judge Liman found that the request went far beyond what was justified. He questioned the number of hours claimed by Lively’s lawyers and said portions of the billing were insufficiently documented.
The judge also rejected expenses that he determined were not properly recoverable as attorney fees, including certain costs related to public relations and other aspects of the broader dispute.
The ruling described Lively’s original demand as “outrageously unreasonable,” according to reports on the decision.
The Dispute Began During ‘It Ends With Us’
The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni began after their work together on the 2024 movie It Ends With Us, in which Lively starred and Baldoni served as both an actor and director.
Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation and later alleged that efforts had been made to damage her reputation.
Baldoni denied the allegations and subsequently filed his own lawsuit accusing Lively and others of defamation and other wrongdoing.
The dispute became one of Hollywood’s most closely watched legal battles, generating extensive public discussion and revealing private communications involving the two sides.
Baldoni’s Lawsuit Was Dismissed
Baldoni’s major defamation lawsuit against Lively was ultimately dismissed.
The judge found that key statements at issue were protected by legal privileges and that Baldoni had not established the claims necessary to proceed with the case.
The broader dispute was eventually settled in May 2026, before the scheduled trial, with no monetary exchange between Lively and Baldoni as part of the settlement.
The question of legal fees remained unresolved, however, leading to Lively’s request for millions of dollars in reimbursement.
Lively’s Lawyers Still Call the Decision Significant
Despite receiving far less than they requested, Lively’s attorneys portrayed the ruling as important.
They argued that the case established a significant legal precedent under a California law designed to protect people who speak out about alleged sexual misconduct from retaliatory defamation claims.
Their position is that the financial award, although much smaller than requested, still recognizes the legal significance of Lively’s defense against Baldoni’s lawsuit.
Baldoni’s Side Sees a Victory
Baldoni’s legal team interpreted the ruling very differently.
His attorneys emphasized the enormous gap between the amount Lively requested and what the judge actually awarded.
Rather than receiving the approximately $8 million sought, Lively was awarded about $407,000.
The ruling therefore gave both sides something to point to: Lively’s lawyers highlighted the precedent and partial reimbursement, while Baldoni’s team focused on the court’s rejection of the vast majority of her request.
One of Hollywood’s Biggest Legal Battles Comes to a Close
The latest ruling represents another chapter in the long-running conflict that began during the production and promotion of It Ends With Us.
Although the underlying dispute has been settled, the battle generated enormous legal expenses and intense public attention.
For Lively, the court’s decision means she will recover only a small portion of the legal costs she sought.
For Baldoni, the ruling provides another reason for his legal team to characterize the outcome as a victory.
After months of accusations, countersuits and courtroom battles, the dispute is now largely behind the two actors — but the fallout from one of Hollywood’s most contentious legal fights is likely to remain a topic of discussion for some time.
