Blake Lively may have celebrated a legal win this week, but according to legal experts in Los Angeles, her lawsuit with Justin Baldoni is far from over. On June 9, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, but lawyers warn that her own claims against Baldoni could now run into major roadblocks.
Legal experts suggest Blake Lively’s case against Justin Baldoni may take unexpected turn
Blake Lively has spent the past six months at the center of an intense lawsuit after filing one in December 2024, accusing Baldoni, her It Ends With Us co-star, of sexual harassment and starting a smear campaign. While Monday’s court ruling dismissed Justin Baldoni’s most aggressive claims against Blake Lively, reported legal experts say both parties remain entangled in a messy and unresolved lawsuit.
Veteran trial attorney Omar Serrato believes this is only the beginning. “I don’t think this will be over any time soon. I think we have a long way to go,” he told the Daily Mail.
Earlier this year, Baldoni and his production company responded with a countersuit, which Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed those claims with prejudice, along with two additional counts of tortious interference with contract and breach of implied covenant, which can be refiled.
Serrato found the judge’s ruling surprising. “I thought Judge Liman would reserve judgment until the conclusion of discovery,” he said. He also pointed out that Baldoni could appeal, adding, “It certainly feels like it may be in danger of appellate review.”
On Lively’s side, the legal road also looks shaky. Serrato pointed to court documents showing affectionate emails and texts between Lively and Baldoni that could complicate her harassment claims. In May 2023, Lively wrote, “I’m grateful for all we’ve built so far. Thank you for caring so much and for putting every bit of you into showing it.” Just days later, Baldoni texted, “I’m not going to tell you that you were amazing because you tease me for being so sentimental – but you were amazing today.”
With both sides facing major setbacks, celebrity lawyer Christopher Melcher said to the outlet that the case may not survive much longer. Though a March 2026 court date remains on the calendar, he doubts it will reach trial.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon.
