What's happened
A Manhattan judge has awarded Blake Lively a fraction of the legal fees she sought in her defamation and harassment case against Justin Baldoni, ordering payment of $363,245 in attorney fees and $44,206 in costs. The ruling narrows the scope to defamation defenses rather than all claims linked to the It Ends With Us dispute.
What's behind the headline?
What happened now
- The judge has determined that Lively is entitled to a limited fee award, balancing the California anti-retaliation protections with the need to defend against defamation claims.
- The decision highlights how complex fee-shifting rules can constrain victims seeking legal recourse after public accusations.
Why this matters
- This will likely influence how high-profile disputes around film productions are financially resolved, potentially dampening expectations for broad fee recoveries in harassment cases.
- It also underscores the importance of precise billing documentation in court, as incomplete invoices were cited in this ruling.
What’s next
- The parties may revisit costs or seek clarifications on the billing records in future filings, though the core fee outcome appears settled.
How we got here
The dispute centers on claims of sexual harassment and a heated production fallout around It Ends With Us (2024). Lively asserted harassment and related claims; Baldoni countered with defamation and other claims. A settlement was reached in early May 2026, leaving only the question of attorney fees and costs. Liman’s decision follows earlier rulings that rejected Lively’s broader harassment claims and certain countersuits.
Our analysis
The Guardian, AP News, Independent – all report Liman’s fee award and the surrounding context of the It Ends With Us dispute, with emphasis on the partial recovery and the defense of defamation claims.
Go deeper
- Does this ruling set a new standard for how attorney fees are awarded in harassment-related cases?
- Will future productions alter how they document legal costs to withstand scrutiny?
- What does this mean for Blake Lively’s and Justin Baldoni’s reputations going forward?
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