Blake Lively seeks $8 million in attorney fees from Justin Baldoni
Synopsis
Blake Lively is asking a judge to make Justin Baldoni pay $8 million in legal fees after his $400 million defamation suit — filed in retaliation for her harassment allegations — was thrown out. Her lawyers billed as much as $2,187 an hour, and a California law designed to protect accusers from courtroom retaliation is the legal hook. The ruling could set a precedent for how that statute plays out in future high-profile cases.
Key Takeaways
Blake Lively has filed a motion seeking $8 million in attorneys' fees and costs in Los Angeles .
The fees relate to her defence against Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios' $400 million defamation suit, which was dismissed by a judge.
Lively's legal team billed $7.5 million in fees at rates as high as $2,187 per hour , plus $540,000 in costs.
Judge Lewis Liman ruled Lively is eligible for fees under a 2023 California law protecting sexual abuse accusers from retaliatory suits, but denied her damages request.
Lively dropped her own lawsuit against Baldoni on the eve of trial in May ; no money changed hands in the settlement.
Blake Lively has formally asked a federal judge to award her $8 million in attorneys' fees and costs, stemming from her defence against a now-dismissed $400 million defamation suit filed by actor-director Justin Baldoni. The motion, filed on Monday in Los Angeles, marks the latest chapter in one of Hollywood's most closely watched legal disputes.
Background: How the Legal Battle Unfolded
The dispute traces back to allegations Lively made against Baldoni — her co-star and director on 'It Ends With Us' — of sexual harassment on set, as well as claims that he orchestrated an online whisper campaign against her after she raised those concerns. Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, denied the allegations and countered by filing the $400 million defamation suit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging they weaponised false harassment claims to seize creative control of the film.
That defamation suit was dismissed, with the presiding judge ruling that Lively's allegations were protected by litigation privilege. Lively, in turn, dropped her own lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer, and others on the eve of trial in May. No money changed hands in the settlement, but the terms allowed Lively to continue pursuing her motion for attorneys' fees.
The Fee Motion: What Lively Is Claiming
In the motion filed Monday night, Lively's legal team stated that they billed her $7.5 million in fees — at rates as high as $2,187 per hour — while defending against Baldoni's defamation claim. An additional $540,000 was spent on associated legal costs, bringing the total request to approximately $8 million.
Her attorneys argued that granting the fee award would serve a broader deterrent purpose, discouraging retaliatory defamation suits against those who come forward with harassment allegations. 'This gross abuse of the legal system was not meant to win in court, its aim was to retaliate against the actress by falsely branding her a liar, intimidating witnesses and the media, and discouraging others from speaking out,' her lawyers wrote in the filing.
The Legal Basis: California's 2023 Anti-Retaliation Law
Judge Lewis Liman earlier this month ruled that Lively is entitled to attorneys' fees under a 2023 California law specifically designed to protect sexual abuse accusers from retaliatory defamation suits. Notably, the judge simultaneously denied her separate request for damages — meaning the fee motion remains the primary financial remedy still in play.
The law represents a legislative effort to close a gap that critics say allowed well-resourced defendants to weaponise the courts against accusers, even after losing on the merits.
What Comes Next
The judge has yet to rule on the $8 million fee request. The outcome could set a significant precedent for how California's 2023 anti-retaliation statute is applied in high-profile harassment cases going forward. Legal observers will be watching whether the awarded amount aligns with, falls short of, or exceeds what Lively's team has claimed.
Point of View
And this case is its first major stress test. If Judge Liman awards the full $8 million, it sends an unambiguous signal that retaliatory litigation carries a steep financial cost. If he awards substantially less, critics will argue the deterrent effect is blunted. What mainstream coverage underplays is that Baldoni's $400 million suit was dismissed not on the facts but on litigation privilege — meaning the underlying harassment allegations were never adjudicated. That ambiguity will linger regardless of what the fee ruling says.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Blake Lively seeking $8 million in attorney fees from Justin Baldoni?
Lively is seeking $8 million to cover the legal costs she incurred defending against Baldoni's $400 million defamation suit, which was subsequently dismissed. Her lawyers argue the suit was retaliatory and that a fee award would deter similar legal actions against harassment accusers in the future.
What happened to Justin Baldoni's $400 million defamation suit?
The defamation suit filed by Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios against Lively and Ryan Reynolds was dismissed by a judge, who ruled that Lively's harassment allegations were protected by litigation privilege. Lively also dropped her own lawsuit against Baldoni on the eve of trial in May, with no money changing hands.
What is the 2023 California law that applies to this case?
The 2023 California law is designed to protect sexual abuse accusers from retaliatory defamation suits. Judge Lewis Liman ruled earlier this month that it entitles Lively to attorneys' fees, though he separately denied her request for damages.
How much did Blake Lively's legal defence cost?
According to the motion filed by her attorneys, Lively was billed $7.5 million in legal fees — at rates as high as $2,187 per hour — plus an additional $540,000 in costs, totalling approximately $8 million.
What were Blake Lively's original allegations against Justin Baldoni?
Lively alleged that Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of 'It Ends With Us' and subsequently orchestrated an online whisper campaign against her after she raised those concerns. Baldoni denied the allegations and filed the defamation suit in response.
