Lively Wins Legal Fees in Baldoni Case

A recent court decision on June 12 has allowed actress Blake Lively to pursue attorneys' fees linked to dismissed claims in her legal battle with actor Justin Baldoni. The ruling, however, denied Lively's requests for treble and punitive damages, leaving legal experts with divergent interpretations as the dispute continues.

The case originated from Lively's accusations of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign against Baldoni in December 2024, which Baldoni denied. Baldoni subsequently filed a $400 million counterclaim that was later dismissed. The primary dispute revolved around whether Lively could claim fees and damages under California Civil Code Section 47.1, an anti-retaliation law.

Entertainment attorney Jordan Matthews views the ruling favorably for Lively, asserting her entitlement to attorney's fees and the applicability of Section 47.1, given the court's determination that Baldoni's defamation suit was retaliatory. Conversely, attorney Richard Shackleton suggests the ruling benefits Baldoni by eliminating the possibility of substantial treble or punitive damages.

Shackleton further clarified that the current focus shifts to determining the specific amount of attorneys' fees Lively can recover, which will be limited to those incurred in dismissing Baldoni's defamation counterclaim. He anticipates the fees could amount to a six-figure sum, potentially several hundred thousand dollars, given the extensive legal work involved.

Lively's attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, described the decision as a significant step, emphasizing that it validates Lively's good-faith claims and establishes her as the prevailing defendant under Section 47.1. However, Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, countered that Lively received only limited relief, highlighting that all her initial claims were dismissed.