The legal fight between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni will take longer to reach a courtroom. A judge has postponed their trial by over two months. The new start date is May 18, 2026. It was originally scheduled for March 9, 2026.
Judge Lewis Liman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ordered the delay. He explained that he has two criminal trials set for March. He said “criminal trials take precedence” over civil cases like this one. The judge also told the legal teams for Lively and Baldoni to speak with a magistrate judge about possibly settling the case.
Why the Judge Delayed the Trial
The delay is a procedural step, not a decision on the case. Judge Liman explained he had to manage a busy court schedule. During a hearing on December 9, he told the lawyers that he tried to avoid postponing the trial but had no choice due to his prior criminal trial commitments.
“As important as this case is, criminal trials take precedence,” Judge Liman said during the hearing.
Both sides confirmed they could work with the new May date, though Lively’s lawyer noted he has another trial in Texas starting the same day and would need to adjust his schedule. The court’s official record was updated to reflect the new trial date of May 18, 2026.
The Next Legal Step: A Crucial Hearing in January
Before the trial, a major hearing will happen. It is set for January 22, 2026. On that day, lawyers will argue over a “summary judgment” motion filed by Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.
A summary judgment is a request for the judge to decide the case in their favor without a full trial. Baldoni’s legal team argues that Lively’s complaints are “minor grievances” that do not amount to legal sexual harassment. They have called the case “a dispute about Hollywood reputations, not genuine legal wrongs”.
Blake Lively’s legal team strongly opposes this. They argue that dismissing the case would “deny Blake Lively her day in court”. A source close to Lively said her position has not changed and she plans to move ahead. The outcome of this January hearing will determine if the case proceeds to the May trial or ends early.
A Look Back at the Legal Battle
The lawsuit began when Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2024. She formally filed a lawsuit in New York on December 31, 2024. In it, she accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment during the filming of “It Ends With Us,” which he directed and starred in with her. She also claims that after she raised concerns, Baldoni and associates from Wayfarer Studios hired a crisis public relations expert to conduct a “smear campaign” to damage her reputation.
Justin Baldoni has denied all allegations. In early 2025, he filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and The New York Times. That countersuit was dismissed by Judge Liman in June 2025. Baldoni’s team has stated they are confident they will prevail against what they call “factually baseless accusations”.
What Blake Lively Is Asking For in Damages
The financial stakes of the case are very high. In recent court filings, Blake Lively’s team details extensive financial losses they link to the alleged smear campaign.
- Lost Earnings: $18.3 million in past wages and $37.9 million in future wages from lost acting jobs, speaking events, and endorsements.
- Business Losses: Her beauty company, Blake Brown Beauty, allegedly lost $49 million in profits. Her beverage company, Betty Booze, missed out on about $22 million.
- Reputation Harm: Lively claims $34 million in damages to her reputation.
Combined, these damages total $161 million. Her legal team is reportedly seeking triple that amount in punitive damages, which could bring the total sought to nearly half a billion dollars.
Details That Could Emerge at Trial
If the case goes to trial in May, several personal details could become public. Lively has named a list of potential witnesses that includes high-profile friends and colleagues like her husband Ryan Reynolds, singer Taylor Swift, actor Hugh Jackman, and author Colleen Hoover. A source familiar with the case has said this is a standard part of the discovery process and does not mean all these people will testify.
Unsealed court documents have also revealed specific claims from both sides. Baldoni’s legal filings include an allegation that Lively improvised a kiss during a scene that was not in the script. Lively’s filings include a claim that she once told Baldoni she would have Taylor Swift pull her song “My Tears Ricochet” from the film’s trailer if her preferred version of the trailer was not used.
Judge Liman has set rules for what can be kept private during the trial. He stated that phone numbers and email addresses will be sealed. However, he warned that any request to seal other documents must have a specific, strong reason, as there is a “presumption of public access” to court records.
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