Blake Lively’s Pursuit of Justin Baldoni: Unraveling the Drama Post-Settlement

The legal conflict between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni might have reached a settlement, yet tensions remain high, as revealed by the Daily Mail.

Although the two parties recently resolved their nearly two-year dispute stemming from Lively’s issues with her It Ends With Us co-star, the actress is continuing her legal pursuit. She seeks reimbursement for fees and damages related to Baldoni’s unsuccessful $400 million defamation lawsuit against her.

Baldoni had initiated a countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and the New York Times in early 2025, but the case was dismissed by a judge last year.

Currently, Lively is pushing for Baldoni to cover the expenses incurred while responding to his lawsuit, potentially igniting further legal skirmishes.

The court documents reveal that she is also seeking “compensatory damages tripled, and punitive damages.”

The document was filed at the court in New York three days after Lively settled her own case against Baldoni with two weeks to go before a trial.

Blake Lively – who returned to the red carpet at the Met Gala just hours after settling her legal battle with Justin Baldoni – is still pursuing him for legal feels after their case was settled 

Justin Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer had countersued Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, for $400 million, accusing them of defamation and extortion. The judge dismissed the claims last June

In a joint statement announcing the settlement neither side apologized but they did say that Lively’s claims ‘deserved to be heard.’ 

Lively’s lawyer Michael Gottlieb said in a filing that the court should impose ‘severe and mandatory penalties against any party who files unsuccessful retaliatory defamation actions against sexual harassment and retaliation complainants’.

He said that Lively’s allegations against Baldoni were legally protected because she made them with the California Civil Rights Department.

Judge Lewis Liman, who oversaw both cases, agreed with her and dismissed Baldoni’s case in November last year on that basis.

Gottlieb wrote that California Civil Code Section 47.1, the applicable law, was designed to ensure that people who claim sexual harassment can ‘share their experiences with courts, agencies, the press, and others without fear of suit’.

He urged Judge Liman to impose ‘significant remedies’ on Baldoni including treble damages and punitive damages.

Gottlieb also asked to submit a five page brief to the court explaining how they want the judge to award her the money, the filing stated.

While the full settlement has not yet been made public so far, one court document noted that both sides waived their right to appeal it.

The surprise settlement marked the end of a two-year legal battle over the fallout from the 2024 movie It Ends With Us. It comes two weeks before the case was set to go to trial

In a statement, Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, another of Lively’s lawyers, said that the settlement was a ‘resounding victory’ for their client.

They said: ‘By agreeing to this settlement, and waiving their right to appeal, Justin Baldoni and every individual defendant now face personal liability for abusing the legal system to silence and intimidate Ms. Lively.

‘And by admitting that Ms Lively’s concerns ‘deserved to be heard’ the defendants have ended once and for all the fiction that Ms. Lively ‘fabricated’ claims of sexual harassment and retaliation.

‘From day one Blake Lively’s mission was clear: expose and hold accountable those who weaponize smear campaigns and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors. That mission continues’.

A source in the Baldoni camp played down the request from Gottlieb and said that Judge Liman was going to rule on it anyway.

Any legal fees could be in the tens of thousands of dollars rather than a significant sum, a source said.

Filings obtained by the Daily Mail reveal Lively is seeking legal fees and additional damages tied to Baldoni’s dismissed lawsuit 

Lively claimed that Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of It Ends With Us then retaliated with a ‘smear campaign’ against her. 

Last month a judge dismissed 10 of her 13 claims including all of the sexual harassment allegations, and removed Baldoni as a named defendant.

Earlier this week the Daily Mail revealed Lively did not get a single dollar from the settlement.

Despite claiming she lost nearly $300 million in earnings and income after being the victim of an alleged ‘smear campaign,’ no money changed hands in the final agreement. 

Sources in Baldoni’s camp said they were ‘ecstatic’ with how the case was resolved, and now it’s easy to see why.

The shock twist came after the case was settled just two weeks before it was due to go to trial in New York.

In a joint statement, both sides said that the filming of the movie ‘presented challenges’ and that Lively’s ‘concerns deserved to be heard.’ 

But there was no apology, only a call for everyone to move on ‘in peace’.

The lack of a financial settlement is a sharp contrast to Lively’s requests to be compensated for the damage to her reputation and film career.

The former ‘Gossip Girl’ star claimed in court documents that she lost as much as $40.5 million due to being branded a ‘mean girl’ and a ‘bully’.

She claimed in court filings that she missed out on up to $87.8 million in lost acting and endorsement opportunities.

Up to $143.5 million more was supposedly lost in profits from Lively’s haircare and alcohol range after the controversy over the film

Baldoni’s lawyers called these claims ‘pie in the sky’ figures and said that Lively’s reputation was already damaged due to her own actions.