Turns out it actually ends with Judge Lewis J. Liman. While Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s It Ends With Us legal dispute is not over, Baldoni’s suit against Lively was dismissed on Monday. Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, were suing Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane for $400 million for defamation and extortion. They had also filed a $250 million defamation suit against the New York Times that was dismissed on Monday as well.
“The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her CRD complaint, which are privileged,” Judge Liman wrote in his decision (which has been reviewed by the Cut), referring to Lively’s initial filing with the California Civil Rights Department. As for the extortion allegations leveled against Lively, Liman wrote that “the Wayfarer Parties have not adequately alleged that Lively’s threats were wrongful extortion rather than legally permissible hard bargaining or renegotiation of working conditions.”
When it comes to how Reynolds, Sloane, and the Times were involved in all this, Liman concluded that any comments they had made publicly did not qualify as defamation. “The Wayfarer Parties have alleged that Reynolds and Sloane made additional statements accusing Baldoni of sexual misconduct and that the Times made additional statements accusing the Wayfarer Parties of engaging in a smear campaign,” he continued. “But the Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Reynolds, Sloane, or the Times would have seriously doubted these statements were true based on the information available to them, as is required for them to be liable for defamation under applicable law.” (A spokesperson for the Times stood by the paper’s work in a statement to the Cut, calling the lawsuit “a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting.”)
This, of course, does not mean everything is over and done with. Liman dismissed the lawsuit in its entirety but allowed some wiggle room for two claims made in Baldoni’s initial complaint. Should they desire, Baldoni’s legal team can file an amended complaint by June 23, but it can address only the allegations of breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with a contract.
In a statement to the Cut, Lively’s lawyers, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, called Liman’s decision “a total victory and a complete vindication” for the actress and the other defendants “dragged into” the lawsuit.
“As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it,” the attorneys said. “We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages, and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.”
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said in a statement to the Cut that he plans to “march forward.” “Ms. Lively and her team’s predictable declaration of victory is false, so let us be clear about the latest ruling,” Freedman said. “While the Court dismissed the defamation related claims, the Court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations.” He added that “Ms. Lively’s own claims are no truer today than they were yesterday.”
Speaking of Lively, it sounds like she’s celebrating a pretty big win. A source told People that the actress had “cried with relief” upon hearing the news, adding that she feels “vindicated.”
On her Instagram Story, Lively addressed the court’s decision. “Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us,” she wrote in a post on Monday. “While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back.” Lively said that she was “more resolved than ever” to “stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves.” She thanked the people who have stood by her, and then included a list of organizations that work to protect women in the workplace and at home.
This post has been updated.