New York: A US court has dismissed most of the claims filed by Blake Lively against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, significantly narrowing the scope of the ongoing legal battle.
Court dismisses majority of claims
In a ruling issued by Judge Lewis Liman, 10 out of the 13 claims brought by Lively were dismissed. These included allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy.
However, the court allowed three claims—breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation—to proceed. These will now be examined in a civil trial scheduled in New York on May 18.
Why harassment claims were rejected
The court ruled that Lively could not pursue a sexual harassment claim under federal law because she was working as an independent contractor during the film’s production.
Additionally, the judge noted that California law did not apply to the case since filming took place in New Jersey, further weakening the harassment-related claims.
Defence calls ruling a “narrowed case”
Legal representatives for Baldoni, including attorneys Alexandria Shapiro and Jonathan Bach, welcomed the decision, stating that the dismissal of the major allegations marked a significant development.
They emphasised that the remaining case is now much narrower and expressed confidence in presenting their defence during the upcoming trial.
Lively’s team shifts focus
Lively’s legal team, represented by Sigrid McCawley, said the case will now centre on retaliation claims.
According to her lawyers, the core issue remains whether there were efforts to damage the actress’s reputation after she raised concerns about safety on set.
Background to the dispute
The legal conflict stems from the making of It Ends With Us, where Lively plays the lead character, Lily Bloom.
The lawsuit, filed in 2024, accused Baldoni of inappropriate conduct on set, including remarks about Lively’s appearance. It also alleged that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, orchestrated a smear campaign against her through media and social platforms.
Some of these allegations had earlier been highlighted in reporting by The New York Times prior to the lawsuit.
Baldoni has denied all accusations, with his legal team describing them as exaggerated and characterising the dispute as stemming from creative and professional disagreements.
No settlement yet
The parties reportedly attempted mediation earlier this year, but no agreement was reached.
With key claims still active, the case is now set to proceed to trial, where both sides are expected to present further evidence and testimony.