Blake Lively's Sexual Harassment Claims Against Justin Baldoni Reduced by New York Judge

A New York judge has dismissed the bulk of sexual harassment claims filed by actor Blake Lively against her "It Ends With Us" co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. The decision, handed down on Thursday, leaves Lively with three claims to pursue at trial, which is slated to begin May 18.

The court discarded ten of the thirteen claims Lively lodged, including allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. The judge, Lewis Liman, cited jurisdictional issues, noting that some alleged misconduct did not occur within California, despite Lively suing under its laws. Most claims against Baldoni as an individual were also dismissed.

Lively's legal team framed the ruling as a narrow legal point rather than a victory for Baldoni, stating the case will now focus on "devastating retaliation" for Lively speaking up about safety on set. Baldoni's legal representatives, however, expressed satisfaction, highlighting the dismissal of all sexual harassment claims against individual defendants.

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Retaliation and Company Claims Persist

While the egregious accusations of direct sexual harassment have been largely sidelined, Lively is permitted to proceed with claims concerning retaliation. These remaining claims target entities including It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Baldoni's production company Wayfarer Studios, and The Agency Group PR LLC.

The latter company is accused of orchestrating an online campaign to damage Lively's reputation. The judge suggested some of Baldoni's alleged conduct might fall within the bounds of what could be expected in the context of a sexually charged film, particularly when discussing scene development.

Background of the Legal Battle

The lawsuit, initially filed in California and later moved to federal court in New York, involves allegations dating back to the production of the film "It Ends With Us." Lively had accused Baldoni and others of sexual harassment and a subsequent retaliatory smear campaign aimed at silencing her.

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Baldoni's side had previously sought dismissal, characterizing Lively's accusations as "trivial and petty grievances." The legal proceedings have seen delays, including a postponement of a March trial start date and extensions granted for evidence submission and witness lists. The current trial date of May 18 remains the focus for the narrowed legal dispute.