A federal judge has dismissed the majority of Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, dismissing ten of his thirteen complaints, including the central allegation of sexual harassment, but ruling that his accusations of retaliation will be brought before a jury in a trial scheduled for May 18.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued his ruling Thursday, significantly narrowing the case that has been playing out in public and in court for more than a year.
The other complaints include alleged breach of contract, retaliation by Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer, and aiding retaliation by the public relations firm he hired.
The sexual harassment claim was dismissed on legal grounds, the judge found that it lacked the substantial nexus to California required by the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and that Lively was ineligible under federal civil rights law because she was an independent contractor rather than an employee.
“Ultimately, Lively fails to confront the central dilemma of her claim,” Liman wrote.
However, the court was far from unaware of what happened following these allegations.
Liman wrote that “some behavior at least arguably crossed the line,” noting that there are limits to how someone accused of harassment can respond.
“There comes a point where the accused stops simply defending himself and starts taking actions that a reasonable jury might view as retaliation for the accuser’s having the temerity to make these accusations.”
The judge also found “direct evidence that the plan to destroy Lively and her career was carried out.”
Among the details that will now be put before the jury: messages from Baldoni’s public relations campaign claiming that Lively had a bad reputation in the industry “spanning decades” and that production staff lost their jobs because of her alleged takeover of the film.
Melissa Nathan, a crisis communications specialist, was quoted in court documents saying she couldn’t send certain documents “it could cause us a lot of problems” and adding: “You know we can bury anyone.”
Wayfarer founder Steve Sarowitz was quoted as saying, “There will be two dead bodies when I’m done.” » The court also noted that Baldoni directed his public relations team to release a video depicting Lively as insensitive to survivors of domestic violence.
Lively’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, said the case “has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and extraordinary measures taken by the defendants to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she defended her safety on set.”
She added that Lively “looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation.”
Baldoni’s lawyers stressed the significance of the dismissals, saying what remained was “a significantly reduced case.”
All complaints against Baldoni personally, as well as those against Wayfarer founder Sarowitz and public relations specialist Nathan, were dismissed.
The legal battle was deadly on all sides.
Baldoni filed a countersuit against Lively in January 2025, accusing her of extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy, but it was dismissed after his legal team missed the filing deadline.
The New York Times was also involved in the conflict.
Other cast members were also implicated, with Isabela Ferrer alleging in court documents that Baldoni’s team acted “inappropriately” after she was subpoenaed, and text messages released in court showing Jenny Slate calling Baldoni the “biggest clown.”
The author of the book, Colleen Hoover, whose novel inspired the film, summed up the outcome of the whole affair.
“It looks like a circus,” she said She. “Now it gives us PTSD to think about it.”
