A judge has ordered Justin Baldoni to pay Blake Lively’s legal fees. The ruling was made in a case linked to a previously dismissed $400 million counterclaim.
The court will determine the amount of financial compensation Lively will receive in this application, clarifying the total legal fees to be paid at a later stage.
Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, stated that their client succeeded in her claim under Article 47.1 of the Civil Code. They argued that the decision shows Lively presented her claims in good faith, there is no evidence of bad faith, and that she was the prevailing party under this article.
The parties had previously agreed to waive their rights to appeal following future rulings. This settlement established a framework limiting the appeal process in the subsequent stages of the case.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said that Lively was awarded only limited legal fees for a single claim in a brief lawsuit. Freedman denied allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and a smear campaign, claiming innocent parties’ reputations were unfairly damaged throughout the process.
Freedman asserted that the court recognized this and that the record supports their position, emphasizing they have stood by the truth from the start. The ruling opens a new financial chapter in the high-profile legal battle between the parties.