Judge grants Blake Lively $400,000 of $8M in legal fees she sought in film fight with Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively will secure approximately $400,000 of the $8 million in legal fees she claimed against actor and director Justin Baldoni, following their legal dispute over the production of their 2024 film "It Ends With Us," according to a federal judge's ruling on Wednesday. Judge Lewis J. Liman explained in a written decision that Lively was not entitled to the full amount her lawyers claimed was spent, citing the constraints of a California law intended to shield sexual harassment and discrimination survivors from retaliatory lawsuits.

The law allowed reimbursement for only her defense against defamation claims, not the entirety of Baldoni's claims, Liman ruled. Lively's legal fees amounted to $363,245, while $44,206 covered costs. Both sides claimed victory, with Baldoni's attorney praising the ruling as a "significant victory" that sends a message about the courtroom's role, while Lively's attorneys called it "historic" for awarding money under California law and setting a precedent for other victims.

The lawsuit alleged sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, and other claims against Baldoni, who denied the allegations. The film, based on Colleen Hoover's novel, released in August 2024, surpassed box office expectations but Lively and Baldoni's dispute overshadowed its message.