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Justin Baldoni is responding to a major development in his ongoing legal dispute with Blake Lively after a federal judge dismissed a significant portion of her claims.
On April 2, Judge Lewis J. Liman of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a ruling on Baldoni's motion to partially dismiss the case connected to the film It Ends with Us. The judge dismissed 10 of the 13 claims brought by Lively, narrowing the scope of the lawsuit as it moves forward.
Following the decision, Baldoni's legal team expressed approval of the outcome. In a statement shared with PEOPLE, attorneys Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach said they were pleased that the court had dismissed all sexual harassment claims, as well as claims against several individual defendants named in the suit. They emphasized that the court carefully reviewed the evidence, along with the legal arguments presented by both sides.
The attorneys also noted that the case has now been reduced in scope, and they are prepared to continue defending the remaining claims in court. While the dismissal removed a substantial portion of the allegations, parts of the case will still proceed to trial.
Among the claims that were dismissed were those related to harassment, defamation and conspiracy. However, two claims filed by Lively will continue, including a breach of contract claim and a retaliation claim under the Fair Employment and Housing Act against Baldoni's company, Wayfarer Studios.
The legal dispute between the two actors began in late 2024, following reported tensions during the production of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel. Lively later filed a complaint alleging misconduct on set and claimed she experienced retaliation connected to the situation.
Baldoni has denied the allegations and previously filed counterclaims against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Those counterclaims, which included accusations such as defamation and extortion, were dismissed by Judge Liman in June 2025, and his legal team chose not to refile revised versions.
Representatives for Lively have also commented on the ruling, noting that the dismissal of her sexual harassment claim was based on legal classification rather than a finding of no wrongdoing. Her legal team explained that the court determined her status as an independent contractor rather than an employee.
The case is still ongoing, with a trial scheduled to begin on May 18 in New York. Both parties are expected to present their arguments in court as the narrowed case continues to move forward.
