Blake Lively Seeks More Than $8 Million in Legal Costs From Justin Baldoni
Actress Blake Lively has formally requested more than $8 million in legal fees and litigation expenses from actor-director Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, after a judge ruled she is entitled to recover certain legal costs.
The latest court filing follows a lengthy legal dispute connected to the film It Ends With Us. Lively argues that she spent millions defending herself against Baldoni’s now-dismissed $400 million countersuit and should be reimbursed under California law.
Legal Team Requests Millions in Fees and Expenses
According to the filing, Lively is seeking approximately $7.5 million in attorneys’ fees along with more than $539,000 in litigation-related expenses, bringing the total request to just over $8 million.
Her attorneys said the case required significant legal work due to its complexity, extensive document review, court proceedings, and the high-profile nature of the dispute. They also argued that the legal action filed against Lively resulted in substantial financial costs that should now be recovered.
Court Previously Allowed Recovery of Legal Costs
Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that Lively could pursue reimbursement for legal fees after dismissing Baldoni’s countersuit. The decision was based on a California law designed to protect individuals who report alleged workplace harassment from retaliatory lawsuits.
While the judge permitted Lively to seek legal costs, requests for additional damages were not approved at that stage.
Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have been given until July 13 to respond to the fee request before the court decides whether to award the full amount or adjust the figure.
Long-Running Dispute Continues
The legal battle began after Lively filed allegations related to the production of It Ends With Us. Baldoni denied the allegations and responded with a countersuit alleging defamation and other claims.
Although both sides later reached a settlement that avoided a full trial, the disagreement over legal fees remains unresolved. The court will now determine whether Baldoni and his company must pay the legal costs requested by Lively.
