Blake Lively demands Justin Baldoni pay $8M in legal fees
Blake Lively demands Justin Baldoni cover more than $8 million in legal fees in new court filings, weeks after the former It Ends With Us co-stars settled their explosive legal war. Her attorneys say intense media scrutiny and a dismissed $400 million defamation suit drove the staggering costs.
The actress filed the request Monday in New York federal court, according to documents obtained by Page Six. Lively is seeking $7,495,526.87 in attorneys' fees plus $539,514.01 in litigation costs from Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.
Key Takeaways
- Lively filed court papers Monday requesting Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios pay more than $8 million in legal fees and costs.
- Her team cited "significant press attention" and more than 7,000 documents produced during the battle over a dismissed $400 million defamation suit.
- Judge Lewis J. Liman ordered Baldoni to respond by July 13 before ruling on the full amount, a reduction, or denial.
- The filing follows a May settlement of Lively's 2024 sexual harassment lawsuit, resolved two weeks before a scheduled May 18 trial.
- Lively won her bid for legal fees this month but was denied triple and punitive damages in the same proceeding.
How much is Blake Lively asking Justin Baldoni to pay?
The filing breaks the request into two parts: $7,495,526.87 in attorneys' fees and $539,514.01 in litigation costs and expenses. Together, the total exceeds $8 million.
Lively's legal team, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, described the work required to defeat Baldoni's now-dismissed $400 million defamation lawsuit as "comprehensive and necessary to achieve the complete win that was secured."
The court documents note that Lively "has paid and continues to pay" her legal bills and will seek any additional attorneys' fees tied to this latest request.
Why does Blake Lively say her legal costs were so high?
Attorneys pointed to the scale and visibility of the dispute. The filing referenced "significant press attention, with thousands of indexed and syndicated media articles" that they said increased the case's legal costs.
Lively's team also noted she produced more than 7,000 documents since the legal war began. That volume, combined with the high-profile nature of the feud, framed the seven-figure demand as a direct consequence of defending against Baldoni's claims.
What happens next in court?
U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman ordered Baldoni, 42, and Wayfarer Studios to respond to Lively's fee request by July 13. After that deadline, the judge will decide whether to award the full amount, reduce it, or deny the request entirely.
Lively, 38, won her bid to seek legal fees from Baldoni earlier in June. However, Liman denied her request for triple damages and punitive damages. Her attorneys said she may still pursue those through other channels, such as an independent lawsuit or a counterclaim.
In a statement to Page Six, Gottlieb and Hudson called the ruling a landmark decision that puts would-be litigants "on notice that there are consequences" for using lawsuits as intimidation.
Where does this stand after the settlement?
In May, Lively settled her December 2024 lawsuit against Baldoni, in which she alleged he sexually harassed her on the It Ends With Us set. The pair resolved the saga just two weeks before trial was set to begin on May 18.
Neither side received money in the settlement itself, though both legal teams have claimed victory. Sources told Page Six Hollywood the attorneys collectively earned roughly $60 million through the process.
For more on the fallout from Hollywood's highest-profile feuds, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
Page Six has reached out to Baldoni's representatives for comment on Lively's latest filing.