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Headline: Justin Baldoni’s $400 Million Lawsuit Against Blake Lively Dismissed
A federal judge has formally dismissed Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit against actress Blake Lively, effectively ending their legal battle tied to the film "It Ends With Us."
In January, Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, were accused by Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of slander. The actor sought damages claiming a loss of future income exceeding $400 million, with publicist Leslie Sloane also named as a defendant.
Just two weeks after Lively initiated her legal action, Baldoni responded with a lawsuit of his own, alleging harassment and asserting that Lively had been part of a campaign to undermine his reputation following her claims of unacceptable behavior on set. Lively’s revised complaint indicated that Baldoni’s actions had also led to discomfort for other women involved in the production.
Furthermore, Baldoni leveled a libel suit against The New York Times, asserting that the publication collaborated with Lively to defame him. However, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed this case as well.
According to Liman’s court order, Baldoni’s team has until June 23 to amend their claims related to breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract.
"This ruling represents a complete triumph and a validation for Blake Lively and those unjustly entangled in Baldoni’s retaliatory legal actions, which also included Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times," expressed Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb. They labeled Baldoni’s lawsuit as a "sham," suggesting that the court quickly recognized its unfounded nature.
Hudson and Gottlieb further indicated their intent to pursue attorney fees, punitive damages, and other compensatory claims against Baldoni and his associates involved in what they described as an abusive legal strategy.
A spokesperson for The New York Times commented on the dismissal, noting, "We appreciate that the judge recognized the lawsuit for what it was: an unsubstantiated attempt to suppress legitimate journalism." They affirmed their commitment to safeguarding journalistic integrity.
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding the dismissal.
The tensions between Baldoni and Lively have escalated since their collaboration on "It Ends With Us," based on the novel by Colleen Hoover. Lively’s initial accusations included claims of sexual harassment by Baldoni during filming, and she suggested that he had employed a crisis public relations firm to orchestrate a campaign against her.
Baldoni’s legal representative had even sought to bring Taylor Swift into the dispute as a potential witness, a move swiftly rejected by Swift’s team as a ploy to generate media attention.
Recently, a federal judge declined Lively’s request to dismiss allegations of emotional distress. Instead, Lively had proposed to withdraw these claims in lieu of providing her medical and mental health records to Baldoni’s legal team.
The upcoming trial between Lively and Baldoni is scheduled for March.
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