Blake Lively Loses Majority of Claims in Harassment Case Against Justin Baldoni

A federal judge has dismissed most of Blake Lively’s claims in her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, narrowing the case to three key allegations. The decision reshapes a high-profile legal battle tied to “It Ends With Us” and sets the stage for a trial in New York.

A federal judge has dismissed the majority of claims in Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against her “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni. The ruling significantly narrows the scope of the case, which is now set to proceed to trial in New York.

Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New York struck down 10 of the 13 claims brought by Lively. Among those dismissed were allegations of harassment and defamation.

A Case Reduced to Three Claims

Despite the broad dismissal, three claims remain active. These include breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation.

These claims will move forward to a civil trial scheduled for May 18, 2026. The trial is expected to focus on whether Lively faced retaliation and whether others played a role in that alleged conduct.

The judge’s decision marks a turning point in a case that has drawn attention since it began in 2024.

Background of the Legal Dispute

Lively first filed the lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign during the production of “It Ends With Us.” Baldoni denied the allegations and responded with a counter-lawsuit.

The dispute stems from their interactions on the set of the film, which is based on a best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover.

The case quickly escalated, with both sides presenting competing claims about what occurred behind the scenes.

Lively’s Legal Team Responds

Following the judge’s ruling, Lively’s legal team emphasized that the case is far from over. Attorney Sigrid McCawley told the BBC that the focus remains on the alleged retaliation.

The case “has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy” the actress' reputation, McCawley said.

She also addressed the dismissal of the sexual harassment claims. According to McCawley, those claims were not dropped due to a lack of wrongdoing.

She clarified that the decision was based on a technical issue, “not because the defendants did nothing wrong.”

Plans for Trial

McCawley confirmed that Lively plans to testify during the trial. The actress intends to continue speaking about her experience and what she describes as online retaliation.

According to her legal team, Lively aims to “shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation.”

The upcoming trial will likely center on these claims and the evidence supporting them.

Baldoni’s Legal Team Welcomes Decision

Baldoni’s attorneys responded to the ruling with a statement expressing approval of the court’s decision.

They said they were “grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided.”

The legal team also pointed out that the case has been significantly narrowed.

“What's left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court,” the statement added.

Previous Counter-Lawsuit Dismissed

This is not the first major legal development in the dispute. Last year, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million counter-lawsuit against Lively.

That suit included allegations of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. Its dismissal removed a major component of the legal battle, leaving Lively’s claims as the central focus.

Public Response and Next Steps

After the recent ruling, Lively shared a lengthy statement on Instagram addressing the outcome. The post came one day after the judge dismissed the majority of her claims.

As the trial date approaches, both sides are preparing to present their arguments in court.

The dismissal of most of Blake Lively’s claims marks a significant shift in her legal battle with Justin Baldoni. While the case is now more limited in scope, it is far from resolved.

With three claims moving forward, the upcoming trial will determine whether Lively can prove retaliation and related allegations. Both legal teams have signaled readiness to argue their positions.

As the case heads to court, it remains a closely watched dispute tied to one of the year’s most talked-about film productions.