Blake Lively wins major legal victory as U.S. court dismisses Justin Baldoni’s multimillion-dollar defamation case and orders final judgment in Manhattan

What started as one of Hollywood’s most dramatic courtroom showdowns has now come to a quiet — but decisive — conclusion.

Actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni has officially lost his chance to appeal a court ruling that dismissed his massive $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times.

Final Judgment Closes the Chapter

According to newly obtained court documents from the Daily Mail, a final judgment has been entered, officially shutting down Baldoni’s lawsuits against all three defendants.

The 52-year-old It Ends With Us star had a limited window to appeal after his claims were dismissed in June — but that period passed without any action from his legal team.

U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman revealed that he had reached out to all parties on October 17 to notify them of the impending closure.

Interestingly, Blake Lively was the only one who responded, requesting that the court finalize the dismissal while leaving open her motion to recover legal fees — a request that was approved.

A Major Setback for Baldoni

This marks a serious defeat for Baldoni, whose defamation suit had accused The New York Times of harming his reputation through a bombshell article highlighting Lively’s claims of sexual harassment during the filming of It Ends With Us.

Baldoni had strongly denied all allegations.

The fallout began last year when Lively accused Baldoni of inappropriate behavior on set, sparking a heated legal war.

Baldoni retaliated with a sweeping defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane.

However, with the dismissal now finalized, that counterattack has crumbled — leaving only Lively’s own sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni still active.

Lively Pushes Forward with Her Legal Claims

Court filings reveal that Lively is also seeking to recover attorney’s fees for defending against Baldoni’s now-failed claims.

Her legal team has continued to pursue allegations that Baldoni and his associates engaged in deceptive digital tactics to hide evidence and manipulate public perception.

According to Daily Mail and Deadline reports, Lively’s attorneys alleged that Baldoni’s team used encrypted apps like Signal, auto-deleting messages, and voice memos to conceal communications relevant to the case.

They accused his camp of “hiding the ball” during discovery and forcing no fewer than twelve discovery-related motions due to alleged non-compliance.

Claims of Digital Deception Surface

Adding more weight to the controversy, a former associate from Jonesworks LLC — a PR firm also implicated in the case — echoed similar concerns in a separate filing.

Court papers reviewed by Deadline allege that Baldoni coordinated with Wayfarer Studios staff and PR professionals Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel to suppress evidence and launch a smear campaign against Lively.

Depositions from former employees reportedly confirmed the use of encrypted apps and other tools to manage sensitive communications.

Lively’s legal team argued that these efforts demonstrated Baldoni’s intent to shield damaging information, especially as litigation became increasingly likely.

Fallout from a Film Overshadowed by Scandal

Ironically, the conflict stems from the very film that was meant to be a career highlight for both stars.

It Ends With Us, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel, grossed $148 million domestically and over $350 million worldwide after its release in August last year.

The movie depicted the toxic love story between Lily Bloom (Lively) and Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) — a relationship that, in a cruel twist of fate, seems to mirror the tension between the two actors in real life.

Despite the film’s box-office success, its triumph has been largely overshadowed by the ensuing legal battles and personal accusations.

The Heart of the Allegations

In her own lawsuit filed in December, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

She claimed he body-shamed her, made inappropriate comments, and used his influence and PR network to damage her reputation once she spoke out.

The lawsuit also named Wayfarer Studios, its CEO, financial backers, and PR figures including Nathan and Abel.

Baldoni denied all accusations, maintaining that the claims were false and defamatory.

From $250 Million to $400 Million — and Then Nothing

Baldoni initially filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging the outlet’s report had defamed him.

He later expanded it into a $400 million case, naming Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane as additional defendants.

That case was dismissed in June, and with no appeal filed before the deadline, it’s now officially over.

Where Things Stand Now

With his counterclaims dismissed, Baldoni’s legal options have narrowed dramatically.

The focus now shifts entirely to Lively’s ongoing lawsuit, which continues to move forward.

Her attorneys remain steadfast, pressing for damages and legal fees while pursuing claims that Baldoni’s team engaged in deliberate evidence concealment.

All Parties Deny Wrongdoing

Representatives for Baldoni, Lively, and Reynolds have all denied the allegations, and none have commented further on the most recent court ruling.

But one thing is clear — what began as a Hollywood romance story both on and off screen has devolved into one of the industry’s most contentious legal dramas.

As the courtroom dust settles, only Lively’s case against Baldoni remains active — a sign that, for now, the director’s legal counterpunch has officially run out of time.