In a major update to the ongoing legal saga, Justin Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and other parties was dismissed by the judge.
On June 9, Judge Lewis J. Liman granted the motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties against Lively and Reynolds, which alleged extortion and defamation, as well as the $250 million defamation lawsuit against the Times. It’s worth noting, though, that Baldoni’s legal team can still amend the claims for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract, with a deadline of June 23.
“The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her CRD complaint, which are privileged,” Judge Liman wrote in the opinion and order filing. “The Wayfarer Parties have alleged that Reynolds and [publicist Leslie] Sloane made additional statements accusing Baldoni of sexual misconduct and that the Times made additional statements accusing the Wayfarer Parties of engaging in a smear campaign. But the Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Reynolds, Sloane or the Times would have seriously doubted these statements were true based on the information available to them, as is required for them to be liable for defamation under applicable law.”
The judge added, “The Wayfarer Parties’ additional claims also fail. Accordingly, the Amended Complaint must be dismissed in its entirety.”
In response to the ruling, Lively’s legal team released a statement hailing the decision.
“As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it,” the statement read. “We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages and punitive damages [from the Wayfarer parties]”
Lively also celebrated the ruling. She took to Instagram to express how “like so many others” she’s “felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit.” Additionally, the Gossip Girl star vowed to “continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves.”
Per insiders, the mother of four was said to have “cried with relief” after the lawsuit dismissal. You wouldn’t catch her weeping, though; the same day of the judge’s decision, Lively stepped out in a stylish Chanel gown for a dinner – looking aglow and well, triumphant.
On the other hand, Baldoni’s camp declared Lively’s “predictable declaration of victory is false” and vowed to “march forward with the same confidence.”