Blake Lively has scored a major victory in her latest ruling related to her bitter legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
U.S. District Judge Louis J. Lehman ruled Friday that director Baldoni must pay Lively legal fees related to a dismissed $400 million defamation lawsuit, according to court documents obtained by Page Six.
However, Mr. Lively lost his lawsuit seeking triple damages and punitive damages.
Court documents say the Gossip Girl former members can seek damages through other means, including an independent lawsuit or counterclaim, including in federal court.
The court will assess how much Ms Lively, 38, will receive in court costs.
Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, told Page Six in a statement: “Ms. Blake Lively has prevailed on her claim under Article 47(1) of the Civil Code. Today’s judgment makes clear that Ms. Lively filed her complaint in good faith, there is no evidence that she acted in bad faith, and she is a successful defendant under Article 47(1).”
“The court awarded Ms. Lively’s attorneys’ fees and costs and explained that a successful defendant under Section 47.1 may seek damages using different procedural mechanisms,” the statement continued. “The parties’ settlement agreement expressly preserves Ms. Lively’s right to obtain these damages.”
Lawyers also said Lively is “gratified” that her legal fees will be paid thanks to a California law that “creates a path for survivors to hold accountable those who weaponize online attacks and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors.”
Brian Friedman, Baldoni’s attorney, told Page Six that Lively “failed” in trying to “abuse a California law designed to protect real victims in what turned out to be a futile mission to obtain damages.”
“Ms. Lively was awarded limited attorney’s fees and no more on a single claim as part of a lawsuit that lasted only a few months,” Friedman continued. “Throughout this process, the reputations of innocent people were unfairly harmed. There was no sexual harassment. There was no retaliation. There was no smear campaign. The court recognized that, the record reflects that, and we have maintained that from the beginning. We will not hesitate to stand up for the truth again.”
After settling her bombshell legal battle two weeks before her trial began on May 18, Ms. Lively dragged her “Seraph of the End” co-star to court last week, demanding that she pay her legal fees and additional costs. She also asked for triple damages and punitive damages to be awarded.
Both stars were absent from the June 1 court hearing.
The legal battle began when Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024.
Baldoni denied Lively’s claims and the following month filed a $400 million countersuit against her co-star and husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist, Leslie Sloan, alleging defamation and extortion.
His case was dismissed in June 2025.
The two sides settled their legal battle after Judge Lehman dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims against Baldoni in the first case, including conspiracy, sexual harassment and defamation.
Lawyers for Mr. Lively and Mr. Baldoni claimed victory with this result.
Page Six has learned that Lively and Baldoni spent a total of $60 million during their 18-month legal battle.
