Judge Shuts Down Blake Lively's Latest Legal Move in Baldoni Case

The Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni legal saga just hit another turning point—and it wasn’t the one Lively’s team was hoping for. Federal Judge Lewis J. Liman has denied her request to file additional briefs and submit further information in the case, essentially telling both sides he’s heard enough and is ready to make his final call on whether Lively deserves any additional fees or damages.

This decision comes roughly two weeks after the two parties announced a settlement agreement in early May, avoiding what was shaping up to be a high-profile New York City trial. But the settlement didn’t mean the case was fully closed. Lively followed up by requesting compensatory damages, punitive damages, and coverage of her attorneys’fees—a move her legal team framed as a“resounding victory.”Their statement emphasized that Baldoni and the other defendants were now facing personal liability for what they characterized as abuse of the legal system to silence and intimidate Lively. They also highlighted that the defendants’acknowledgment that her concerns“deserved to be heard”essentially vindicated her claims of sexual harassment and retaliation.

Baldoni’s camp, however, painted an entirely different picture. His attorney Bryan Freedman countered that the settlement was a“total victory”for his client, pointing out that a judge had already dismissed ten of Lively’s thirteen claims—including every sexual harassment claim and defamation charge. Freedman suggested Lively’s team settled because they knew they were losing on the merits.

The underlying dispute stretches back to December 2024, when Lively first accused Baldoni, her It Ends With Us costar and director, of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. She subsequently sued Baldoni and others, alleging retaliation. Baldoni countersued but had that lawsuit dismissed in June 2025. Then in April 2026, Lively faced her own setback when most of her claims were dismissed by the court.

Now, with Judge Liman’s refusal to accept additional briefs, the case heads toward a final ruling on the remaining fees and damages question—one that’s been pending since September 2025. No matter how the judge rules, one thing’s clear: this Hollywood courtroom battle has taken more twists than either side anticipated when it all began.