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Baldoni Fights $8M Fee Request
14 Jul
Summary
- Baldoni disputes Lively's $8M legal fee request as excessive.
- He argues her legal team charged high rates and overstaffed the case.
- Lively seeks fees for successfully defending against Baldoni's claims.
Justin Baldoni is contesting Blake Lively's demand for more than $8 million in legal fees and costs, characterizing it as an "anything but typical fee motion." Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios argue in a July 13 filing that Lively's legal team charged excessive hourly rates and overstaffed the litigation. They cite The New York Times' request of $181,622.70 in a similar defamation claim dismissal as a benchmark.
Baldoni previously sued The New York Times in 2024 for defamation, a claim that was later dismissed. The current dispute arises from Lively's countersuit, filed in December 2024, after Baldoni's defamation-related claims against her were dismissed by Judge Lewis Liman in June 2025. Lively is seeking fees under California Civil Code Section 47.1.
Lively's attorneys contend the fees are necessary for a "comprehensive and necessary" defense that secured a complete win. The legal work covered the period from January 2025, when Baldoni filed his countersuit, through June 2025. They assert Lively has paid her legal bills and intends to seek additional fees for litigating this fee application.
The broader litigation between the parties concluded with a settlement in May 2026. Judge Liman is now tasked with determining the amount, if any, Baldoni must pay Lively for her legal expenses related to his counterclaim. Lively's legal team highlighted the significance of the ruling, stating it puts others on notice about consequences for using lawsuits as intimidation tactics.
