The legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has entered another significant phase. Just weeks after a federal judge ruled that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios must pay Lively’s legal costs, the actress has officially requested more than $8 million in attorneys’ fees and related expenses.
The latest filing adds another chapter to the ongoing courtroom battle that began in late 2024.
Blake Lively Requests More Than $8 Million
According to court documents obtained by media, Blake Lively has asked the court to award a total of $8,035,040.88.
The filing states that the actress is seeking:
- $7,495,526.87 in attorneys’ fees.
- $539,514.01 in litigation costs.
The request follows a recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, who decided that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios are responsible for covering Lively’s legal expenses.
Legal Team Welcomes the Court’s Decision
Following the ruling, Lively’s attorneys, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, praised the court’s decision.
In a statement, they said:
“Thanks to this landmark decision, those considering using a lawsuit as a weapon of intimidation have been put on notice that there are consequences for doing so. The value of this ruling is in the precedent it creates, the accountability it imposes, and the protection it provides to those who may one day find themselves facing similar retaliation for speaking the truth.”
According to the legal team, the ruling sends a strong message that lawsuits should not be used to intimidate or pressure individuals.
Lively’s Lawyers Criticise the Defence’s Legal Strategy
In the latest court filing, Lively’s lawyers accused Wayfarer Studios and the other defendants of using unnecessarily aggressive legal tactics throughout the case.
They alleged that the defence kept the dispute in the public eye through repeated media coverage while also making the litigation more complicated and expensive.
The filing further claims the defendants delayed producing documents and repeatedly forced Lively’s legal team to seek court intervention over what they described as improper legal filings.
How the Legal Dispute Began
The legal battle started in December 2024 when Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and alleged that he participated in a campaign to damage her reputation.
Baldoni has denied all the allegations. He later responded by filing a countersuit against Lively, escalating the high-profile legal dispute.
The case remains ongoing, with both sides continuing to challenge each other’s claims in court.