How Blake Lively Is Reportedly Trying To Get Justin Baldoni’s Defamation Case Dismissed

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After the romantic drama “It Ends With Us” achieved box office success last fall, it has become the focus of a significant legal dispute between its star Blake Lively and the film’s director, Justin Baldoni, along with other main actors. The accusations have escalated to the point where both Lively and Baldoni have filed lawsuits against each other. However, it appears that Lively and her legal team have devised a strategy they believe will dismiss the case.

Blake Lively Has Filed A New Motion To Dismiss Justin Baldoni’s Suit

In court filings submitted in the Southern District of New York on Thursday, Lively requested a judge to throw out Baldoni’s revised lawsuit against her, using California Civil Code section 47.1 as justification. This law, which will be enforced starting in 2023, is intended to shield individuals facing sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination accusations from being sued unless the claimant is acting out of malice, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In response to Baldoni filing a lawsuit in the New York federal court, Lively’s team argues that it represents an excessive use of legal proceedings which has no business being heard in federal court. They contend that the case should have been handled under California law since Wayfarer Studios is based in that state. If the dismissal is granted, Baldoni may also be obligated to cover Lively’s legal expenses and potentially face triple and punitive damages for any harm inflicted on his accusers.

Moreover, Lively contends that Baldoni’s lawsuit for libel was filed beyond the one-year timeframe because she presented a 17-point list of requirements, which she later claimed as her allegedly defamatory statements, in November 2023, while filming was ongoing and her return to production was being requested.

In response to Lively’s latest claim, Baldoni might argue that she made these assertions out of malice. However, for this argument to hold up, he would need to prove that she knew the statements were untrue or was disregardful about their accuracy.

What Else Has Gone On With Lively And Baldoni So Far?

In response to Lively’s complaint filed in December, alleging sexual harassment by Baldoni and a coordinated defamation campaign, Baldoni countered with a civil lawsuit against both Lively and her spouse, Ryan Reynolds, in January.

In late January, a judge combined the legal cases of the pair into a single trial. On February 3, 2025, the lawyers from both sides appeared in court for a 90-minute hearing. Since that time, a public relations firm has filed its own lawsuit against Lively, but the actress managed to secure a victory when a judge granted restrictions on access to certain evidence.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the SXSW premiere for “Another Simple Favor,” a movie that left quite an impression. Regrettably, Ryan Reynolds couldn’t make it, which led to a somewhat uncomfortable moment when Anna Kendrick was questioned about the ongoing Baldoni situation.

When Lively and her team took their latest action, a representative communicated that although the actress has faced significant hardship for speaking out, it is crucial for others to understand they have safeguards. Specifically, regarding the California law, these safeguards prevent individuals from being suppressed or facing financial ruin due to a defamation lawsuit.

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2025-03-21 01:37