Blake Lively awarded $400K in legal fees from Justin Baldoni after $8M request

Actress Blake Lively has been awarded just over $400,000 in legal costs from actor Justin Baldoni, a fraction of the $8 million she initially requested. The decision comes after the pair settled their legal battle concerning the production of their 2024 film, 'It Ends With Us.'

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Lively seeks attorneys’ fees for 82 timekeepers, including 53 from Willkie and 29 from Manatt. But she includes biographical information, title, and billing rate information for only 11 timekeepers. Id. The Court has no basis to evaluate the fee request for the remaining timekeepers and therefore denies it. The number of hours for which Lively seeks reimbursement is unreasonable.

Judge Lewis J. Liman explained in a written decision that Lively was not entitled to the full amount sought by her lawyers. He cited the specific limitations of a California law intended to protect survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory lawsuits. The judge ruled that this law could only be interpreted to allow reimbursement for fees incurred defending against defamation claims, not for all the claims Baldoni had made against her.

Lively's legal team had previously submitted documentation detailing $7,495,526.87 in lawyer fees and $539,514.01 in other expenses. However, Judge Liman found the request for fees from 82 timekeepers to be unreasonable, noting that biographical information, titles, and billing rates were provided for only 11 individuals. He stated the court had no basis to evaluate the request for the remaining timekeepers.

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significant victory for my clients

In addition to attorneys' fees, Lively was denied various costs, including expert fees not ordered by the court, investigation expenses, postage, telephone, and photocopying charges. Bryan Freedman, representing Baldoni, called the ruling a "significant victory" for his clients, emphasizing that Lively received less than five percent of her requested amount and that the decision sends a message against exploiting the law for personal gain.

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sends a clear message that, no matter how powerful you may be, the courtroom is not a place to take advantage of the law for your own personal gain.