A judge has awarded actress Blake Lively $400,000 to cover legal fees and costs associated with defending against a defamation lawsuit brought by her former co-star Justin Baldoni. Lively had sought $8 million, comprised of $7.5 million for lawyers' fees and $540,000 for other expenses.
The initial legal action saw Lively sue Baldoni, who was her co-star and director in the 2004 film "It Ends With Us," for sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni subsequently countersued for defamation. A judge dismissed his defamation complaint in 2025.
In the ruling regarding legal fees, the judge determined that Lively should receive a considerably lower amount than requested. The judge stated that Lively had requested money for more individuals and a longer period than was necessary for the defense against the defamation claim. The decision indicated that funds for other intertwined costs related to the broader legal dispute should not have been claimed. The judge also noted that Lively took a "blunderbuss approach" in calculating the billable hours for her legal team.