Blake Lively has been awarded about $400,000 in attorneys’ fees and court costs after her lengthy legal dispute with Justin Baldoni, although the amount is far below what the actress had requested.
A federal judge on Wednesday awarded Lively $363,000 in attorneys’ fees and roughly $44,000 in court costs in connection with her defense against Baldoni’s failed defamation lawsuit.
Judge Awards Far Less Than Lively Requested
Lively had sought millions of dollars in reimbursement, including $7.5 million in attorneys’ fees and another $540,000 in court costs. The court ultimately approved about $407,000 combined.
Judge Lewis Liman said the attorneys’ hourly billing rates were not unreasonable considering the stakes and complexity of the dispute. However, he found that the number of hours submitted for reimbursement was unreasonable.
The ruling means Lively will receive only a fraction of the amount she originally requested.
How the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Dispute Began
The legal battle grew out of the production and promotion of It Ends With Us, in which Lively and Baldoni starred together.
Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2024. She alleged that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios had engaged in an online campaign against her after she raised complaints about sexual harassment on the film’s set.
Baldoni denied the allegations and subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and others. He alleged that Lively had fabricated accusations and attempted to take control of the movie.
Baldoni also sued The New York Times over its reporting on Lively’s allegations. That case was dismissed.
The Legal Fight Ends Without a Federal Trial
The dispute continued for roughly 18 months before Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement in May 2026.
The settlement prevented the federal trial that had been scheduled for later that month. The attorneys’ fee dispute remained one of the unresolved issues after the settlement.
Lively later asked the court to reimburse her legal expenses related to defending against Baldoni’s defamation claims.
Why the $400,000 Award Matters
The ruling does not represent the full amount Lively had requested, but it does provide a court-ordered reimbursement following the dismissal of Baldoni’s defamation claims.
The case also highlights how expensive high-profile entertainment litigation can become. Although the court considered the lawyers’ rates reasonable, it concluded that the amount of time billed went beyond what could reasonably be recovered.
Lively’s request was made under a 2023 California law designed in part to discourage certain defamation lawsuits involving people who publicly raise allegations of sexual assault.
The court had previously rejected Lively’s request for treble and punitive damages, finding that those damages were not available under federal law.
What Happens Next?
The major legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni has already been settled, so the latest ruling primarily resolves the remaining question of Lively’s attorneys’ fees and court costs.
The decision puts another significant chapter of the It Ends With Us legal battle behind the parties, while the broader controversy surrounding the film and its stars continues to attract public attention.
Source: Variety, based on the federal court ruling by Judge Lewis Liman.
