Blake Lively’s courtroom war with Justin Baldoni may officially be settled, but the legal drama surrounding “It Ends With Us” is far from over.
Just days after both sides reached a surprise agreement, the actress was hit with another setback when a judge rejected her latest request tied to legal fees and damages.
The ruling comes as tensions continue to boil between the two camps, with Baldoni’s attorneys celebrating the settlement as a major win while Lively’s team insists the actress succeeded in exposing retaliation tactics against her.
Blake Lively suffered another courtroom disappointment on Monday after a judge denied her request to submit additional briefs and evidence connected to her legal fees fight with Justin Baldoni.
According to TMZ, the actress had hoped to provide further arguments before the court finalized any ruling tied to damages or attorney costs following the pair’s recent settlement.
The legal development arrived only days after Lively and Baldoni ended their nearly two-year battle connected to “It Ends With Us.”
Despite the settlement, Lively is still aggressively pursuing compensation tied to Baldoni’s failed $400 million defamation lawsuit against her.
The actress claims she should be awarded legal fees because Baldoni’s countersuit was retaliatory and ultimately dismissed.
Lively is also requesting “compensatory damages tripled, and punitive damages,” according to court filings.
Her legal team had already filed motions earlier in the case but wanted permission to present even more supporting material before the judge shut the request down. The filing itself landed in New York court just three days after the settlement agreement became official.
Lively Continues Pushing For Legal Fees From Baldoni
Blake Lively’s attorneys have remained firm in arguing that the “It Ends With Us” director should face financial penalties for filing the defamation suit against her.
Michael Gottlieb, one of the Hollywood star’s lawyers, argued the court should impose “severe and mandatory penalties against any party who files unsuccessful retaliatory defamation actions against sexual harassment and retaliation complainants.”
He also argued that Lively’s original allegations were protected under California law because they were made through the California Civil Rights Department.
Judge Lewis Liman, who handled both cases, previously sided with Lively on that argument and dismissed Baldoni’s defamation suit last year.
Gottlieb pointed specifically to California Civil Code Section 47.1, saying the law exists to ensure people can “share their experiences with courts, agencies, the press, and others without fear of suit.”
The attorney also requested permission to submit a five-page brief explaining exactly how Lively should receive the money she seeks.
The legislation itself was passed in 2023 following the MeToo movement and remains relatively new within the court system. Meanwhile, Baldoni’s lawyers strongly rejected the idea that their client should pay Lively anything extra.
Blake Lively And Justin Baldoni Continue Trading Public Shots
Even after settling, Lively and Baldoni’s camps are still publicly attacking each other over who truly won the case.
Baldoni’s attorneys called the “Gossip Girl” actress’s effort to recover legal fees “draconian” and argued the director had every right to defend himself in court.
They also accused Lively of attempting to make herself “immune from any culpability for her wrongful acts.” Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, described the settlement as a “win and total victory” for his side.
“The court had already dismissed 10 of Ms Lively’s 13 claims, including every sexual harassment claim, every defamation claim, and all claims against the individual defendants,” Freedman said per the Daily Mail, adding, “Ms Lively voluntarily dismissed the rest.”
He also claimed the actress settled because she feared losing at trial, noting, “In our view, they settled because they knew they were going to lose in court.”
Freedman added that the only remaining issue involves “a pending request for fees based on a very narrow issue.”
Lively’s Team Calls Settlement A ‘Resounding Victory’
Despite the fierce statements from Justin Baldoni’s side, Blake Lively’s attorneys painted a very different picture of the outcome.
As reported by The Blast, her lawyers insisted the settlement represented a major success for the actress and her wider mission.
In a statement, her attorneys called the agreement a “resounding victory” for Lively. “By agreeing to this settlement, and waiving their right to appeal, Justin Baldoni and every individual defendant now face personal liability for abusing the legal system to silence and intimidate Ms Lively,” the statement said.
The legal team also argued the settlement destroyed claims that Lively fabricated her allegations, stating, “And by admitting that Ms Lively’s concerns ‘deserved to be heard’ the defendants have ended once and for all the fiction that Ms Lively ‘fabricated’ claims of sexual harassment and retaliation.”
The statement continued, emphasizing Lively’s broader goal throughout the legal war. “From day one Blake Lively’s mission was clear: expose and hold accountable those who weaponize smear campaigns and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors. That mission continues,” it read.
Blake Lively Walks Away Without Financial Settlement
One of the biggest surprises surrounding the settlement is that Lively reportedly received no direct financial payout.
Earlier this week, reports revealed that no money changed hands despite Lively previously claiming the controversy had devastated both her reputation and business ventures.
The actress alleged in court filings that she lost as much as $40.5 million after being labeled a “mean girl” and a “bully.”
She also claimed she missed out on up to $87.8 million in acting and endorsement opportunities.
According to filings, another $143.5 million was allegedly lost due to reduced profits from her haircare and alcohol brands.
Justin Baldoni’s legal team dismissed those numbers as “pie in the sky” estimates and argued Lively’s damaged reputation stemmed from her own actions.