Justin Baldoni Moves to Dismiss Blake Lively’s $161M Lawsuit

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Actor and director Justin Baldoni is asking a judge to dismiss a major lawsuit filed against him by actress Blake Lively, arguing that her claims are legally unsupported and driven more by reputation concerns than proven misconduct. The lawsuit, filed earlier this year, seeks $161 million in damages and accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliation, defamation, and contract violations during the production of their film It Ends With Us.

In new court documents, Baldoni’s legal team says Lively’s claims cannot move forward because she was working as an independent contractor, not an employee. According to their argument, many of the laws she is trying to use in her case apply only to traditional employee–employer relationships. Baldoni’s attorneys also say Lively’s financial demands, including projected lost profits, are “speculative” and do not meet the legal standard of certainty needed to justify such a massive payout.

The filing further states that “no reasonable jury” could find Baldoni liable based on the evidence presented so far. His lawyers argue the dispute appears to center on professional disagreements and damage to public image, rather than provable harassment or retaliation.

Lively’s lawsuit, however, paints a very different picture. She alleges that Baldoni created a hostile work environment, behaved inappropriately on set, and retaliated when she raised concerns. Her legal team maintains that the alleged behavior harmed both her career and emotional well-being.

The case has drawn widespread attention due to the star power involved and the scale of the damages sought. Hollywood insiders say the lawsuit could set an important precedent for how on-set conduct disputes are handled, especially in projects where actors work as contractors instead of employees.

A trial is currently scheduled for March 2026, giving both parties several months to continue gathering evidence, submitting motions, and preparing arguments. If the judge grants Baldoni’s request for dismissal, the lawsuit could end before reaching a jury, but if not, it may become one of the most closely watched industry trials of next year.

For now, both sides remain firmly in disagreement, and the legal fight is far from over.