Blake Lively awarded $400,000 in legal fees, not $8 million, in dispute with Justin Baldoni

In a legal battle stemming from the set of the film "It Ends With Us," actress Blake Lively has been awarded $400,000 in legal fees, a significantly reduced amount from the $8 million she sought. The dispute involved a lawsuit filed by Lively against co-star and director Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment, and Baldoni's subsequent countersuit for defamation.

Lively's legal team had argued that she incurred $8 million in costs over 10 months to defend herself against Baldoni's $400 million defamation claim. However, the judge presiding over the case found Lively's requested amount to be "excessive and exorbitant." The judge noted inconsistencies in the request and ultimately ruled that Baldoni should pay only 5% of Lively's claimed expenses.

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From the beginning, we have said that Blake Lively’s case was never about the money; it was about accountability.

Following the ruling, Lively's attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, issued a statement emphasizing that the case was never about the monetary sum. "From the beginning, we have said that Blake Lively’s case was never about the money; it was about accountability," the statement read. They further asserted that the court's decision holds historical significance, demonstrating that retaliatory lawsuits carry real consequences.

While the specifics of the original harassment and defamation claims were not detailed in the provided text, the legal proceedings focused on the financial aspects of the defense. The judge's decision to award a fraction of the requested fees suggests a nuanced view of the costs incurred by Lively in defending against Baldoni's substantial countersuit.

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This ruling is of historical significance and shows that retaliatory lawsuits have real consequences.