A federal judge has dismissed most of the claims in a sexual harassment lawsuit Blake Lively filed against her It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni.
Ten of 13 allegations in Lively's case, including harassment and defamation, were thrown out by judge Lewis Liman.
Three claims against Baldoni – including breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation – will now go to a civil trial in New York on 18 May.
Lively launched legal action against Baldoni in 2024, accusing her co-star of sexual harassment and starting a smear campaign after starring in the film It Ends With Us.
Baldoni denied the claims and launched a countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, while also pursuing legal action against The New York Times over an article they published, but a judge threw these out in June last year.
In his 152-page ruling, Judge Liman said harassment claims Lively brought against Baldoni under California law did not hold up because the filming, and alleged wrongdoing, took place in New Jersey.
Baldoni's attorneys, Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach, told the Daily Mail: “We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel.
“These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided.
“What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.”
Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively’s legal team, also told the Daily Mail: “This case has always been and will remain focused on the devasting retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set and that is the case that is going to trial.
“For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and the playbook behind these coordinated digital attacks have been exposed and are already being held accountable by other women they’ve targeted. She looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.
“Sexual harassment isn’t going forward not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee.”
