Judge grants Blake Lively $400,000 of $8M in legal fees she sought in film fight with Justin Baldoni
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A federal judge in Manhattan ruled Wednesday that actress Blake Lively is entitled to recover just over $400,000 of the approximately $8 million in legal fees and costs she requested following an 18-month legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman awarded Lively $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in expenses. The dispute stems from a lawsuit Lively filed in December 2024 alleging workplace harassment, followed by Baldoni’s countersuit alleging defamation and extortion. Though the primary litigation was settled out of court in May 2026, Lively sought fee reimbursement under a California statute designed to protect sexual harassment survivors from retaliatory lawsuits. Judge Liman ruled that while Lively qualified for statutory protection, she could only recover fees directly linked to defending against Baldoni's dismissed defamation claims, finding her broader $8 million request for total hours billed to be unreasonable.
More context
Timeline
- On August 2024 It Ends With Us premiered amid rumors of cast friction.
- On December 2024 Lively filed a lawsuit alleging workplace sexual harassment and retaliation.
- On January 2025 Baldoni filed a countersuit claiming defamation, extortion, and sabotage.
- On June 2025 Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni's defamation claims under litigation privilege.
- On April 2026 Court dismissed ten of thirteen claims raised in initial lawsuits.
- On May 2026 Lively and Baldoni settled remaining claims out of court.
- On June 2026 Judge Liman ruled Lively qualified for statutory legal fee recovery.
- On July 2026 Lively submitted an $8 million legal reimbursement request to court.
- On August 26 2026 (1:00 PM EDT) Judge Liman finalized award at $407,451 in fees, costs.
- Rival parties will fulfill fee terms without filing further appeals.
Why it matters
Immediate US impact: Federal court narrows fee-shifting scope under California anti-SLAPP laws. Long-term US impact: High-profile Hollywood litigants face stricter limits on legal cost recovery. Most affected groups: Film production studios, celebrity litigants, entertainment attorneys, and accusers. What readers should prioritize: Distinguish statutory legal fee awards from overall settlement victory claims.
Coverage notes
Left: Highlights statutory protections for survivors against retaliatory defamation counter-claims. Center: Focuses strictly on judicial math, statutory limits, and settlement. Right: Emphasizes Lively receiving a tiny fraction of requested $8M.
Primary report
publication_date: August 26, 2026 trigger_description: Federal Judge Lewis J. Liman issued a written fee order.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
