Justin Baldoni’s lawyer has confirmed that efforts to resolve the actor and director’s legal dispute with Blake Lively outside the courtroom have so far failed, leaving the former co-stars on track for a trial later this year.
Speaking outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in Manhattan on Wednesday, Feb. 11, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, said a discussion of a court-ordered settlement held earlier in the day had been “unfruitful.”
While acknowledging that a deal could theoretically still be reached, he added that he did not know whether the two sides would return to the negotiating table before the case went to trial.
Asked about the likelihood of facing Lively in court, Freedman made his intention clear, saying he was “looking forward to it.”
The comments come after Baldoni, 42, and Lively, 38, attended a private conference with Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave in New York to determine whether they could reach an agreement without proceeding to a full civil trial.
Baldoni arrived at the courthouse with his wife, Emily, while Lively entered alone.
Settlement negotiations were moderated by Judge Lewis J. Liman, who suggested in December 2025 that the parties attempt to resolve the matter privately, especially since the trial date had already been pushed back.
The legal battle dates back to December 2024, when Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and planning a smear campaign against her following the production of It ends with us.
The film, directed and starring Baldoni alongside Lively, was released in August 2024 and was based on the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover.
Baldoni has denied all of Lively’s allegations. He then filed countersuits against Lively and The New York Timeswhich reported on its claims, but these actions were dismissed in June 2025.
Lively’s civil case was originally scheduled to go to trial in March, but it was delayed until May 18 due to Judge Liman’s existing caseload.
With settlement negotiations failing to reach an agreement, both sides now appear to be preparing for a legal showdown in May, unless a last-minute deal changes the course of the closely watched case.
