NEW YORK — A federal judge has substantially reduced the scope of a civil complaint filed by actress Blake Lively against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni, dismissing the majority of her claims, including those alleging sexual harassment. The ruling, issued on April 2, 2026, leaves a narrower set of allegations—focused on retaliation and breach of contract—poised to proceed towards a trial, now scheduled for May 18, 2026.
The court tossed out 10 of Lively’s 13 claims, a significant pruning of the legal entanglement that began nearly a year prior. Among the dismissed allegations were claims of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. Lively had accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the production of the film "It Ends With Us," alleging a subsequent smear campaign to retaliate against her for speaking out.
Judge Lewis Liman determined that Lively, as an independent contractor, could not pursue a sexual harassment claim under federal law. Furthermore, claims related to misconduct allegedly occurring in California were dismissed due to jurisdictional issues, as the filming took place in New Jersey.
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However, Lively's legal team, represented by Mike Gottlieb, emphasized that the core of their case—retaliation for speaking up about on-set behavior—remains. Gottlieb stated that the court found Lively "provided evidence to go to trial on her core claims," including her belief that Baldoni's conduct constituted unlawful sexual harassment and that he and his production company took steps to harm her reputation and career. Lively herself expressed gratitude for the ruling, viewing it as an opportunity to "tell [her] story in full" regarding the "pervasive RETALIATION" faced for advocating for a safe working environment.
The remaining three claims to be addressed at trial involve breach of contract and retaliation, including aiding and abetting in retaliation. These claims are directed not only at Baldoni personally but also at his production company, Wayfarer Studios, and a public relations firm, The Agency Group PR LLC, which Lively accused of orchestrating an online campaign to cast her in a negative light.
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A mediation session held in February failed to yield a settlement between the parties, who have consistently denied wrongdoing and presented conflicting accounts of the events on set. Evidence unsealed in January included text messages between Lively and her friend Taylor Swift. Baldoni's legal team had argued that Lively exaggerated misconduct claims to gain control of the film and to portray Baldoni negatively. The judge had previously dismissed Baldoni's countersuit in June.
The legal dispute began in late December 2025, when Lively formally filed her lawsuit in New York federal court. The proceedings have moved with notable speed, with oral arguments on Baldoni’s summary judgment request slated for January 2026. Despite the dismissal of the harassment claims, both sides remain engaged in a legal battle that appears unlikely to resolve without a jury’s intervention.
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