A federal judge has thrown out 10 of the 13 claims in Blake Lively‘s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, including the core sexual harassment allegations. The ruling, delivered by Judge Lewis Liman, narrows the case significantly as both sides prepare for a trial scheduled for May 18 in New York City.
The legal battle began in December 2024 when Lively, 39, accused her It Ends With Us co-star and director of creating a hostile work environment. She claimed Baldoni crossed professional boundaries during the filming of the Colleen Hoover adaptation. Baldoni, 42, denied all accusations and filed a countersuit, which a judge dismissed last year.
The recent ruling marks a major legal win for Baldoni. Judge Liman dismissed claims of sexual harassment, defamation, conspiracy, and so-called “fat-shaming.” Only three claims remain: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation.
Justin Baldoni’s Attorneys Celebrate Court Decision
Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach, Baldoni’s lawyers, quickly responded to the judge’s decision. They expressed relief that the serious charges against their client were dropped.
“We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel,” Shapiro and Bach said in a statement. “These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided.”
The attorneys described what remains of Lively’s lawsuit as “a significantly narrowed case.” They confirmed they are ready to fight the remaining charges in court.
Why the Judge Threw Out the Harassment Claims
Judge Liman’s 152-page ruling explained several legal reasons for dismissing the harassment allegations. One key factor involved Lively’s employment status. The judge determined that Lively worked as an independent contractor on the film, not as an employee. This distinction meant that certain California labor laws and federal workplace protections did not apply to her situation.
The judge also pointed to an unsigned contract called the Actor Loanout Agreement (ALA). Lively never signed this document, which would have set rules for handling sexual harassment claims on set. Without a signed agreement, the judge ruled that Lively could not use that contract to sue.
“It is clear that the ALA is not and has never been a validly formed and binding contract,” Judge Liman wrote. “The fact that the parties were not able to come to terms on such provision provides powerful evidence that no contract had yet been formed.”
The judge also dismissed the “fat-shaming” claims. Lively had alleged that Baldoni asked her personal trainer about her weight. However, Judge Liman wrote that the physical appearance of actors is often part of the “product” being sold to audiences. He noted that Lively herself agreed that achieving a certain look was “part of the job.”
Blake Lively’s Team Responds and Vows to Continue
Lively’s legal team, led by Sigrid McCawley, acknowledged the ruling but emphasized that the case is not over. They argued that the harassment claims were dropped for technical reasons, not because the behavior did not happen.
“This case has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set,” McCawley said. “Sexual harassment isn’t going forward not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee.”
Lively herself broke her silence following the ruling. She described the experience as “unfathomably painful” but promised to keep fighting. She expressed gratitude that the “heart of my case” will still be heard by a jury next month.
“I will never stop fighting,” Lively said in a statement. “The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit, but I brought this case because of the pervasive retaliation I faced for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment.”
She also addressed broader issues, pointing to what she called “digital violence” and its real-world impact. “The physical pain from digital violence is very real. It is abuse. And it’s everywhere,” she wrote.
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What Happens Next in the Court Case
The trial is set to begin May 18 in New York City. While Lively cannot pursue sexual harassment claims, her legal team will focus on proving that Baldoni and his team retaliated against her for speaking up.
Three specific claims are moving forward:
- Breach of contract
- Retaliation
- Aiding and abetting retaliation
These remaining allegations center on whether Baldoni’s team launched a coordinated effort to damage Lively’s reputation after she raised concerns about behavior on set. Lively plans to testify at the trial.
The movie It Ends With Us became a worldwide hit, earning over $351 million at the box office. But the behind-the-scenes legal war has overshadowed the film’s success. The May trial will determine whether Baldoni and his studio unlawfully targeted Lively in a campaign to harm her career.
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