{"id":2356196,"date":"2026-04-03T00:14:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:14:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2356196"},"modified":"2026-04-03T00:14:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:14:05","slug":"whats-left-is-a-significantly-narrowed-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/whats-left-is-a-significantly-narrowed-case\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018What\u2019s Left Is a Significantly Narrowed Case\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Justin Baldoni\u2019s legal team has reacted to the latest development in Blake Lively\u2019s legal case against her <em>It Ends with Us <\/em>director-costar<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On Thursday, April 2, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed 10 of Lively\u2019s 13 claims against Baldoni, including those related to harassment<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe\u2019re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims,\u201d said Baldoni\u2019s legal team in a statement shared with PEOPLE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/justin-baldoni\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Justin Baldoni;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Justin Baldoni&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Justin Baldoni<\/a> is responding to the recent shake-up in his legal battle with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/blake-lively\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Blake Lively;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Blake Lively&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Blake Lively<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Judge Lewis J. Liman, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York, ruled on Thursday, April 2, on Baldoni\u2019s <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/justin-baldoni-files-motion-asking-judge-throw-out-blake-lively-case-against-him-legal-battle-11848636\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:bid to end the case;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;bid to end the case&quot;}\" class=\"link \">bid to end the case<\/a> involving his <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/blake-lively-justin-baldoni-lawsuits-explained-11751383\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:It Ends with Us;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;It Ends with Us&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><em>It Ends with Us<\/em><\/a> costar, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/blake-lively-s-sexual-harassment-suit-against-justin-baldoni-dealt-major-blow-as-judge-throws-out-10-of-her-13-claims-11934368\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:dismissing 10 of her 13 claims;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;dismissing 10 of her 13 claims&quot;}\" class=\"link \">dismissing 10 of her 13 claims<\/a> against him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe\u2019re 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,\u201d Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach of Shapiro Arato Bach said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively are seen on the set of &#8220;It Ends with Us&#8221; on January 12, 2024 in Jersey City, N.J.<br \/>Credit: Jose Perez\/Bauer-Griffin\/GC Images<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThese 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,\u201d the statement concluded. \u201cWhat\u2019s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:PEOPLE's free daily newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;PEOPLE'&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><strong>PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/strong><\/a><strong> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ten of the 13 claims Lively, 38, filed against Baldoni, 42, following their <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/where-blake-lively-justin-baldoni-case-stands-one-year-later-exclusive-11872253\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:behind-the-scenes conflict;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;behind-the-scenes conflict&quot;}\" class=\"link \">behind-the-scenes conflict<\/a> on the 2024 <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/colleen-hoover-book-movie-adaptations-roundup-11707299\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Colleen Hoover;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Colleen Hoover&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Colleen Hoover<\/a> adaptation <em>It Ends with Us, <\/em>were thrown out in Judge Liman\u2019s latest decision. These dismissed claims included those related to harassment, defamation and conspiracy. Lively\u2019s breach of contract claim and a FEHA retaliation claim against Baldoni\u2019s company Wayfarer Studios will still move forward to trial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The two costars\u2019 conflict began in December 2024, when the <em>Gossip Girl<\/em> actress <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/blake-lively-sues-it-ends-with-us-costar-justin-baldoni-for-sexual-harassment-8765475\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:filed a sexual-harassment complaint;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;filed a sexual-harassment complaint&quot;}\" class=\"link \">filed a sexual-harassment complaint<\/a> against Baldoni, alleging misconduct on the set of the romantic drama and a retaliatory smear campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The director-star, who has denied the allegations, filed counterclaims against Lively and her husband, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/ryan-reynolds\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ryan Reynolds;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Ryan Reynolds&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Ryan Reynolds<\/a>, involving <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/justin-baldoni-sues-blake-lively-ryan-reynolds-8768821\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:allegations of extortion and defamation;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;allegations of extortion and defamation&quot;}\" class=\"link \">allegations of extortion and defamation<\/a> that were <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/justin-baldoni-countersuit-against-blake-lively-ryan-reynolds-dismissed-by-judge-11750697\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:dismissed by Judge Liman in June 2025;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;dismissed by Judge Liman in June 2025&quot;}\" class=\"link \">dismissed by Judge Liman in June 2025<\/a>; Baldoni\u2019s legal team <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/justin-baldoni-not-moving-forward-amended-claims-against-blake-lively-ryan-reynolds-11758654\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:opted out;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;opted out&quot;}\" class=\"link \">opted out<\/a> of refiling amended versions of those claims.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Justin Baldoni and his wife, Emily Baldoni, in February 2026Credit: XNY\/Star Max\/GC Images\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/hLKgoHYuGwrz.RQ8eAzFLw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/aae56007e4e495ea311bbdb20a8247d2\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Justin Baldoni and his wife, Emily Baldoni, in February 2026<br \/>Credit: XNY\/Star Max\/GC Images<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively\u2019s legal team, also reacted to the April 2 ruling, pointing out in a statement shared with PEOPLE that the actress&#8217; sexual harassment claim against Baldoni \u201cisn\u2019t going forward not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Judge Liman\u2019s new ruling follows a Feb. 11 <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/justin-baldoni-blake-lively-no-settlement-deal-reached-after-court-day-trial-11905163\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:court-mandated settlement conference;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;court-mandated settlement conference&quot;}\" class=\"link \">court-mandated settlement conference<\/a> with Baldoni and Lively, which ended without an agreement. Attorneys for both actors have stated that they <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/blake-lively-lawyer-speaks-out-actress-testify-justin-baldoni-trial-exclusive-11729937\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:plan to testify during the trial;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;plan to testify during the trial&quot;}\" class=\"link \">plan to testify during the trial<\/a> scheduled to begin on May 18 in New York.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/justin-baldoni-reacts-dismissal-blake-lively-sexual-harassment-claims-trial-11941948\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;People&quot;}\" class=\"link \">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEED TO KNOW Justin Baldoni\u2019s legal team has reacted to the latest development in Blake Lively\u2019s legal case against her It Ends with Us director-costar On Thursday, April 2, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed 10 of Lively\u2019s 13 claims against Baldoni, including those related to harassment \u201cWe\u2019re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2356197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25177],"tags":[25078,457479,375248,457478,457477,274219,304758,375249,457480],"class_list":["post-2356196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","tag-blake-lively","tag-dismissed-claims","tag-jennifer-abel","tag-jonathan-bach","tag-judge-lewis-j-liman","tag-justin-baldoni","tag-legal-battle","tag-legal-team","tag-shapiro-arato-bach"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/\u2018Whats-Left-Is-a-Significantly-Narrowed-Case.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2356196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2356196"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2356196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2356198,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2356196\/revisions\/2356198"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2356197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2356196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2356196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2356196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}