U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman awarded Blake Lively $407,000 in legal fees and court costs on Wednesday after she sought $8 million from Justin Baldoni stemming from his dismissed defamation lawsuit, marking what her attorneys called a historic first application of California law protecting those who report sexual misconduct.
The award breaks down to $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206.35 in court costs—roughly 5 percent of the total Lively requested. Judge Liman found that although the billing rates charged by Lively’s legal team were reasonable given the high stakes and complexity of the case, the number of hours for which she sought reimbursement was excessive.
The ruling stems from California Civil Code Section 47.1, a statute designed to shield individuals who report sexual harassment or harassment from retaliatory defamation suits by allowing them to recover attorneys’ fees if they prevail. Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, stated in a written response that the decision represents the first-ever fee award under this specific statute, calling it “historic” and emphasizing that the legal system “still functions as a force for accountability.”
The fee dispute followed a broader legal battle that began in December 2024 when Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department alleging that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, orchestrated an online smear campaign against her in retaliation for her complaints about sexual harassment during filming of “It Ends With Us.” Baldoni denied the allegations and countersued Lively for $400 million, accusing her of fabricating harassment claims to gain creative control of the film.
In April 2026, Judge Liman dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims, including her sexual harassment and defamation claims, finding that she was an independent contractor rather than an employee—a jurisdictional issue that removed those claims from the court’s authority. Lively and Baldoni then settled their remaining claims in May 2026, just two weeks before trial was scheduled to begin, ending an 18-month legal dispute without financial compensation to either side.
The June ruling that Lively could seek attorneys’ fees under Section 47.1 left the amount to be determined. In Wednesday’s decision, Judge Liman affirmed that Lively was entitled to recover reasonable costs for defending against Baldoni’s defamation claim specifically, though he substantially reduced her request. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, also claimed victory in the fee decision, arguing that the judge’s rejection of 95 percent of Lively’s fee request “sends a clear message that, no matter how powerful you may be, the courtroom is not a place to take advantage of the law for your own personal gain.”
The fee award may represent the final court decision in the high-profile dispute between the “It Ends With Us” co-stars, which drew significant media attention and public commentary throughout its duration.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times — Judge Liman’s award of $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206.35 in costs, reasoning on billing hours, and attorneys’ statement calling the decision historic.
- Reuters — Confirmation of the $407,000 total award on August 26, 2026, and background on the defamation claim.
- BBC News — Details on Lively’s $8 million fee request and the settlement timeline.
- NBC News — Information on the June 2026 ruling establishing Lively’s entitlement to fees under California Civil Code Section 47.1.
- Associated Press — Timeline of the case, including the settlement in May 2026 and the dismissal of Lively’s harassment claims in April 2026.
- Good Morning America — Confirmation of Judge Liman’s order and the composition of the fee award.
