Court dismisses 10 claims including harassment against Justin Baldoni, what’s left in Blake Lively’s lawsuit — remaining charges details

In a significant development in the high-profile Blake Lively lawsuit, a U.S. federal judge has dismissed the majority of claims brought by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni, including allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. The ruling has narrowed the scope of the legal battle, placing the spotlight firmly on retaliation-related claims that are now set to proceed to trial.

Court Dismisses Key Allegations

According to court documents, Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 out of 13 claims filed by Lively against Baldoni. Among those dropped were the most serious accusations, including sexual harassment.

Legal representatives for Lively clarified that the dismissal was based on a technicality rather than a judgment on the merits of the allegations. The court determined that Lively was functioning as an independent contractor during the filming of It Ends With Us, rather than an employee, affecting the applicability of certain workplace harassment laws, as per a report by Page Six.

Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni: What Claims Will Proceed?

Despite the setback, three claims remain active and will move forward to trial:

• Breach of contract
  
• Retaliation
  
• Aiding and abetting retaliation
  

Lively’s legal team emphasised that the case has always centred on alleged retaliation and reputational damage following her complaints about on-set conduct.

In a statement, her lawyers argued that the case would focus on what they described as “coordinated digital attacks” aimed at undermining her credibility after she raised concerns, according to the Page Six report.

Baldoni’s Legal Team Welcomes Ruling

Representatives for Baldoni welcomed the court’s decision, stating that they were “pleased” with the dismissal of the sexual harassment claims and other allegations against individual defendants.

They described the ruling as a validation of their argument that the claims lacked sufficient legal grounding, adding that the case is now “significantly narrowed.”

Baldoni has consistently denied all allegations made against him.

Background of the Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni Dispute

The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni stems from their collaboration on It Ends With Us. Lively filed her lawsuit in December 2024, alleging harassment and a subsequent smear campaign that she claimed caused significant professional and financial harm.

She reportedly sought damages amounting to at least $161 million, citing lost earnings and reputational impact.

In response, Baldoni filed a countersuit worth $400 million against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. However, that lawsuit was dismissed in June last year, though Baldoni’s legal team has indicated that further legal options remain open.

Retaliation Case Takes Centre Stage

With harassment claims no longer part of the case, the focus has shifted to the retaliation aspect of the
Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni dispute. Lively’s lawyers argue that after she raised concerns, she was subjected to targeted efforts designed to damage her public image.

The legal team has also referenced alleged “DARVO” tactics—an acronym describing a pattern of denying wrongdoing, attacking the accuser, and reversing victim and offender roles, according to the report by Page Six.

The trial, scheduled for May 18, is expected to examine whether such retaliation occurred and whether it caused measurable harm to Lively’s career.

What Lies Ahead

As the case heads to trial, both sides are preparing for what could be a closely watched courtroom battle. Lively has expressed her intention to testify, stating that she hopes the proceedings will shed light on online retaliation and make it easier for others to confront similar situations.

FAQs

What happened in the Blake Lively lawsuit against Justin Baldoni?

A federal judge dismissed most of Lively’s claims, including sexual harassment, but allowed retaliation-related claims to proceed to trial.

Why were the harassment claims dropped?

The court ruled that Lively was an independent contractor, which affected the legal basis for workplace harassment claims.