Photo Credit; Getty Images
Blake Lively is addressing the latest legal development in her ongoing case with Justin Baldoni after a federal judge dismissed the majority of her claims.
On April 2, Judge Lewis J. Liman of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled on Baldoni's request to have the case partially dismissed ahead of its scheduled trial on May 18. In his decision, the judge threw out 10 of the 13 claims filed by Lively, significantly narrowing the scope of the dispute.
Despite the reduction in claims, the case will still proceed to trial on several remaining allegations. These include a breach of contract claim and a retaliation claim under the Fair Employment and Housing Act against Baldoni's company, Wayfarer Studios.
Following the ruling, a member of Lively's legal team, Sigrid McCawley, issued a statement emphasizing that the core of the case remains unchanged. She explained that the lawsuit has always centered on what she described as severe retaliation and efforts to damage Lively's reputation after she raised concerns about safety on set. She added that the claims moving forward represent the central issues that will be examined in court.
McCawley also addressed the dismissed sexual harassment claim, clarifying that its removal was based on Lively's classification as an independent contractor rather than an employee, not a determination that the alleged conduct did not occur. The dismissed claims also included those related to defamation and conspiracy.
The legal dispute began in December 2024 when Lively filed a complaint alleging misconduct during the production of the film It Ends with Us. Baldoni has denied the allegations. In response, he previously filed counterclaims against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, including accusations of defamation and extortion. Those
counterclaims were dismissed by the court in June 2025, and his legal team chose not to pursue amended versions.
Lively's legal team has stated that she is prepared to testify at trial and remains committed to presenting her case. They also expressed that the proceedings have already brought attention to what they describe as coordinated online attacks, which they say have affected others as well.
The latest ruling follows a court ordered settlement conference held in February that did not result in an agreement. With the trial date approaching, both sides are expected to present their arguments in court as the narrowed case moves forward.
