Blake Lively Suffers 'Huge Blow' in Justin Baldoni Court Battle but He's 'Not Off the Hook,' Say Legal Experts (Exclusive)
Blake Lively Suffers 'Huge Blow' in Justin Baldoni Court Battle but He's 'Not Off the Hook,' Say Legal Experts (Exclusive)
Sarah JonesFri, April 3, 2026 at 9:52 PM UTC
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Blake Lively; Justin BaldoniCredit: TIMOTHY A.CLARY / AFP via Getty; BG048/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images -
A federal judge dismissed 10 of Blake Lively's 13 claims against Justin Baldoni on Thursday, April 2
One attorney calls the ruling a "huge blow" to Lively and a "huge win" for Baldoni, while another says her remaining claims are still "strong"
The case is now set to move forward on some retaliation-related claims, with both sides expected to testify at a May 18 trial
Blake Lively’s legal battle against Justin Baldoni took a major turn after a federal judge dismissed 10 of her 13 claims, a decision that attorneys say significantly reshapes the case ahead of trial.
Entertainment litigation attorney, Gregory L. Doll, exclusively tells PEOPLE the ruling marks a “huge blow” to Lively, 38, and a “huge win” for her It Ends with Us writer-costar Baldoni, 42. However, sexual harassment attorney,Megan Thomas, argues that the remaining claims are still “strong” and that Baldoni is “not off the hook.
Both attorneys have no connection to the case.
The ruling leaves the case focused on a handful of claims tied to alleged retaliation, after the court found the actress' sexual harassment claims could not move forward under federal or Californialaw, according to court documents. The dismissed claims included sexual harassment, defamation and conspiracy, leaving claims such as breach of contract and retaliation to proceed.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in 'It Ends with Us'Credit: Nicole Rivelli/Sony Pictures Entertainment
"The sexual harassment claims individually… have always been very weak,” Doll says.
He explains that the judge dismissed those claims largely on legal grounds, including that Lively was considered “an independent contractor rather than an employee under Title VII,” meaning "Title VII did not apply." He adds that the claims were also dismissed because “the movie was filmed in New Jersey,” not California.
Lewis J. Liman, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York, ruled on Thursday, April 2 that several claims tied to alleged retaliation move forward.
“It’s a huge blow to Blake’s side, and it’s a huge win for Justin,” Doll says. “I think she’s got a tough road… proving retaliation and damages is going to be really difficult to do.”
Justin Baldoni on Dec. 4, 2024 in Los Angeles, CACredit: Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty
Doll adds that Baldoni is no longer personally liable, with the remaining claims now against the companies involved in the case.
However, a second attorney tells PEOPLE the ruling does not eliminate the strength of Lively’s case.
“Some claims were dismissed, including sexual harassment, because they were not legally viable,” says Thomas, a sexual harassment attorney and founder of a New York-based firm representing employees in workplace harassment, discrimination and retaliation cases.
“The claims that remain, breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation, are more substantial and will move forward,” she adds.
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Thomas agrees the ruling is “a blow to Lively” but emphasizes that Baldoni is “not off the hook.”
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds on April 27, 2025 in New York, NYCredit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty
“Her remaining claims appear to be strong, and she has ample evidence,” Thomas says. She adds that narrowing the case can sometimes push parties toward settlement, though that may not happen here.
“That does not appear likely here. Both sides seem firmly committed to their positions and ready to present their arguments in court.
In December 2024, Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni, alleging that he sexually harassed her on the set of their film adapted from the Colleen Hoover novel of the same name.
She further accused him of trying to “destroy” her reputation with a calculated smear campaign, which was detailed in a New York Times article titled, "'We Can Bury Anyone': Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine."
Less than two weeks later, she filed a formal lawsuit against the Jane the Virgin alum, accusing him of sexual harassment, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy.
However, Baldoni denied all her accusations and filed his own $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively,Ryan Reynolds, and their PR team. His counterclaims were dismissed by Judge Liman in June 2025; the Jane the Virgin alum’s legal team opted not to refile amended versions of those claims.
The actress’ attorney Michael Gottlieb said in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Friday, April 3, that her sexual harassment allegations “have always been the beating heart of Ms. Lively’s case. They are why she filed her lawsuit.”
Per Gottlieb’s statement, “The Court’s ruling that Ms. Lively’s state and federal harassment claims could not go to trial was about legal issues rather than an endorsement of the defendants’ conduct. The court held that Ms. Lively’s sexual harassment claims could not go to a jury because Ms. Lively did not sign a contract, that she is an independent contractor instead of an employee, and that the offensive conduct occurred in New Jersey instead of California.”
Attorneys Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach of Shapiro Arato Bach said in a statement shared with PEOPLE, "We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan,and Jennifer Abel."
“These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided,” the statement concluded. “What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.”
A settlement conference earlier this year did not resolve the dispute and both parties are expected to testify when the case goes to trial, currently scheduled for May 18.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
