Blake Lively awarded $400,000 of $8m she claimed for legal fees in Baldoni battle
Summary
Actress Blake Lively asked for $8 million to cover legal fees after a defamation case involving her former co-star Justin Baldoni. A judge awarded her about $400,000, saying much of her requested costs were not necessary or related to the defamation claim. Both sides said the ruling was a win for them.Key Facts
- Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment and retaliation; Baldoni countersued for defamation.
- The judge dismissed Baldoni’s defamation claim in 2025.
- Lively requested $7.5 million for lawyers’ fees and about $540,000 for other legal costs.
- The judge approved only $407,451, saying much of the claimed fees were for unnecessary time or unrelated issues.
- Lively’s lawyers called the fee award historic under a 2023 California law protecting sexual harassment accusers.
- Baldoni denied harassment and said the ruling shows the law cannot be used for personal gain.
- The two parties previously settled some disputes to end the case.
- The case received attention for its use of a law meant to protect people from retaliatory lawsuits after making harassment claims.
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