Blake Lively’s Legal Claims Against Justin Baldoni End as Court Dismisses Case

 A federal judge has dismissed the sexual harassment claims Blake Lively filed against actor‑director Justin Baldoni in their ongoing legal dispute connected to the 2024 film It Ends With Us. The decision comes just weeks before the case was set for trial.

The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman in Manhattan, threw out 10 of the 13 claims in Lively’s lawsuit — including her allegations of sexual harassment, as well as related defamation and conspiracy counts. Those claims were dismissed largely on legal grounds involving how the law applies to actors classified as independent contractors rather than traditional employees.

Despite this setback, the judge allowed three claims to move forward toward trial. These remaining allegations involve breach of contract and retaliation, including claims that Baldoni’s production company and his publicity team allegedly engaged in actions intended to harm Lively’s career after she raised concerns about workplace issues.

Justin Baldoni’s legal team responded positively to the court’s decision dismissing the sexual harassment counts, saying they look forward to presenting their defense on the narrower set of claims that remain.

The high‑profile lawsuit has drawn widespread media attention since Lively filed it in late 2024, with both sides offering conflicting accounts of events on the It Ends With Us set. While the judge’s recent ruling eliminates the harassment claims from the case, the remaining retaliation and contract claims will proceed to trial, currently scheduled to begin in May 2026.

This decision significantly narrows the legal battlefield in a case that has captured public interest, but it does not end the overall dispute between the actresses’ legal team and Baldoni’s camp, and additional courtroom developments are expected as the trial approaches.