We have a new update on Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni‘s It Ends With Us legal battle.
On Friday (June 12), a judge ruled that Justin, 42, must pay Blake‘s, 38, attorneys’ fees and litigation costs related to Justin‘s counterclaim under the California statute. However, her request to pursue treble damages and punitive damages was denied.
“The Court concludes that, on this record, the Wayfarer Parties have failed to carry their burden of demonstrating that the Section 47.1 privilege does not apply, and Lively is therefore entitled to fees and costs,” U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman wrote in his ruling, per People.
He separately concluded that “Lively‘s request for damages must be denied” on procedural grounds.
The amount of attorneys’ fees and costs Blake may recover has yet to be determined. Now, the court will asses how much in legal fees the actress should be paid, with her lawyers submitting a breakdown of their hourly rates and how long they worked on the case, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
However, as part of their settlement last month, the parties agreed to waive any appeal of Liman‘s ruling on the motion.
After the ruling, Blake‘s legal time released a statement.
Blake Lively won her motion under Civil Code Section 47.1. Today’s ruling makes it clear that Ms. Lively brought her claims in good faith, that there was no evidence she acted with malice, and that she is the prevailing defendant under Section 47.1. The Court is awarding Ms. Lively attorneys’ fees and costs and has explained that a prevailing defendant under Section 47.1 may seek damages using different procedural mechanisms. The parties’ settlement agreement expressly preserves Ms. Lively’s rights to obtain those damages. Ms. Lively is gratified that her lawsuit shows how Section 47.1 and laws like it create a path for survivors to hold accountable those who weaponize online attacks and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors.
The ruling marks the latest chapter in the It Ends With Us legal battle, which began in December 2024 when Blake accused Justin of sexual harassment and retaliation stemming from production of the movie.
Justin denied the allegations and later filed a $400 million lawsuit. In June 2025, the suit was dismissed in it’s entirety, but Justin has since appealed the decision.
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