{"id":2456669,"date":"2026-06-12T17:41:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T17:41:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2456669"},"modified":"2026-06-12T17:41:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T17:41:04","slug":"justin-baldoni-ordered-to-pay-blake-livelys-legal-fees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/justin-baldoni-ordered-to-pay-blake-livelys-legal-fees\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Baldoni Ordered to Pay Blake Lively\u2019s Legal Fees"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Justin Baldoni<\/a><\/span><\/strong> will pay Blake Lively<\/span><\/a><\/strong>\u2019s legal fees after the pair settled their It Ends With Us<\/i><\/span><\/a> dispute, a court ruled.<\/p>\n

According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly<\/i> on Friday, June 12, Judge Lewis J. Liman<\/strong> ruled that Lively, 38, was entitled to recover her defense costs under a 2023 California law meant to protect sexual abuse accusers from retaliatory defamation suits.<\/p>\n

Liman, however, denied Lively\u2019s request for triple damages and punitive damages, finding that those remedies are not available under federal law.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Court concludes that, on this record, the Wayfarer Parties have failed to carry their burden of demonstrating that the Section 47.1 privilege does not apply, and Lively is therefore entitled to fees and costs,\u201d the judge wrote in court documents before concluding that \u201cLively\u2019s request for damages must be denied\u201d on procedural grounds.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>A Complete Timeline of Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni\u2018s Lawsuit and Trial<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tBlake Lively\u2019s alleged feud with director and costar Justin Baldoni on the set of It Ends With Us exploded into multiple lawsuits in 2025. The former Gossip Girl star kicked off the legal battle by filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department and subsequently sued Baldoni over sexual harassment allegations. Baldoni\u2019s lawyer Bryan [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Us<\/i> has reached out to Baldoni\u2019s attorney for comment on the ruling. Lively\u2019s attorneys Esra Hudson<\/strong> and Michael Gottlieb<\/strong> reacted to the news in a statement to Us<\/i>.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s ruling makes it clear that Ms. Lively brought her claims in good faith, that there was no evidence she acted with malice and that she is the prevailing defendant under Section 47.1,\u201d the statement read. \u201cThe Court is awarding Ms. Lively attorneys\u2019 fees and costs and has explained that a prevailing defendant under Section 47.1 may seek damages using different procedural mechanisms. The parties\u2019 settlement agreement expressly preserves Ms. Lively\u2019s rights to obtain those damages. Ms. Lively is gratified that her lawsuit shows how Section 47.1 and laws like it create a path for survivors to hold accountable those who weaponize online attacks and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hours before Lively made an appearance at the 2026 Met Gala<\/span><\/a> on May 4, news broke that Lively and Baldoni, 42, had reached a settlement<\/span><\/a> in their highly contentious It Ends With Us<\/i> legal dispute.<\/p>\n

Although details surrounding the settlement were kept private, both parties released a joint statement expressing \u201cclosure\u201d in the matter.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Justin<\/div>

\n Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni<\/span> Nicole Rivelli \/ Sony Pictures Releasing \/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe end product \u2014 the movie It Ends With Us<\/i> \u2014 is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors \u2014 and all survivors \u2014 is a goal that we stand behind,\u201d attorneys for both parties said in a statement to Us Weekly<\/i> at the time. \u201cWe acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statement continued, \u201cWe remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the settlement was made public, Baldoni\u2019s attorney called the result \u201ca win and total victory<\/span><\/a>\u201d for the Wayfarer parties. Lively\u2019s legal team, however, claimed she was \u201centitled\u201d to receive damages<\/span><\/a> because of the \u201charm\u201d she suffered as a result of the case.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\"\"
\n\t\"\"<\/p>\n