Blake Lively wins bid for Justin Baldoni to pay her legal fees

Blake Lively scored a big win in the latest ruling related to her explosive legal battle with Justin Baldoni.

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman decided Friday that Baldoni must pay Lively her legal fees related to the director’s dismissed $400 million defamation lawsuit, according to court documents obtained by Page Six.

Lively, however, lost her bid to seek triple damages and punitive damages.

The court docs note the “Gossip Girl” alum can seek damages by other other means, such as an independent lawsuit or a counterclaim, including in federal court.

The court will asses how much in legal fees Lively, 38, will receive.

Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson & Michael Gottlieb, told Page Six in a statement: “Blake Lively won her motion under Civil Code Section 47.1. Today’s 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.”

“The Court is awarding Ms. Lively attorneys’ fees and costs and has explained that a prevailing defendant under Section 47.1 may seek damages using different procedural mechanisms,” the statement continued. “The parties’ settlement agreement expressly preserves Ms. Lively’s rights to obtain those damages.”

The lawyers also said Lively “is gratified” she’s getting her legal fees paid thanks to California laws that “create a path for survivors to hold accountable those who weaponize online attacks and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors.”

Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, told Page Six Lively “failed” at trying to “exploit a California law that was established to protect real victims in what proved to be a fruitless mission to obtain damages.”

“Ms. Lively was only awarded limited attorney fees for a single claim as part of a case that lasted only a matter of months, nothing more,” Freedman continued. “Throughout this process, innocent people had their reputations unfairly tarnished. There was no sexual harassment. There was no retaliation. There was no smear campaign. The court recognized it, the record reflects it, and we have maintained it from the very beginning. We would not hesitate to stand up for the truth again.”

After settling their bombshell legal battle two weeks before their trial was set to begin on May 18, Lively dragged her “It Ends With Us” co-star back to court last week, requesting he pay her legal fees and any additional costs from the case. She also asked to be awarded triple damages and punitive damages.

Both stars were no-shows at the June 1 court hearing.

The legal war began when Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024.

Baldoni denied Lively’s claims and, the next month, filed his $400 million countersuit against his co-star, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation, extortion and more.

His lawsuit was dismissed in June 2025.

They settled their legal battle after Judge Liman tossed out 10 of Lively’s 13 allegations against Baldoni from her initial lawsuit, including conspiracy, sexual harassment and defamation.

Both Lively and Baldoni’s legal teams claimed victory in the outcome.

Page Six learned that Lively and Baldoni spent a combined $60 million during their 18-month legal showdown.