Two weeks after a judge dismissed his $400 million counter-suit against the actress and other parties in his ongoing It Ends With Us legal battle, director and actor Justin Baldoni has been dealt another blow.
Baldoni had the opportunity to amend four of the seven claims in his lawsuit, with June 23 being the deadline—but that date has come and gone, and it appears that the director won’t be refiling those claims after all.
Per People, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said that his client, despite previously promising to amend, will not be doing so, but instead:
“Will be pursuing additional legal options” against Lively.
Freedman added that they will be moving ahead with discovery in the case, intending to prove that:
There was no sexual harassment at the hands of Baldoni against Lively, and
There was no smear campaign to ruin her reputation.
Despite these declarations, this is widely seen as a major win for Lively, as the biggest claims of defamation against her, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times have already been thrown out.
At this point, Baldoni is fighting only Lively’s claims of harassment and the alleged smear campaign, while his own major claims are off the table.
Where Does the Lawsuit Stand Now?
Remaining Legal Disputes
What’s left are Lively’s claims of harassment, which Baldoni still has the opportunity to contest.
His legal team is currently trying to obtain Lively’s communications and text messages with Taylor Swift, especially if they involve anything related to the production of It Ends With Us. The judge ruled that Baldoni had a right to these communications if they are relevant to the making of the film, though even that attempt is seen by many as a legal stretch.
Interestingly, Baldoni’s team attempted to subpoena Taylor Swift, but they ultimately pulled back when it became evident that Swift’s legal team would not make that process easy.
Why Didn’t Baldoni Amend His Lawsuit?
There are two interpretations of why Baldoni failed to amend his claims:
From Lively’s supporters: They argue that there was nothing left to amend, and Baldoni’s legal position was untenable after the judge’s dismissal.
From Baldoni’s supporters: They believe that this legal fight is now financially unfeasible for him, especially when facing Lively’s high-profile legal team. In their view, she has the resources and influence to continue the battle, while Baldoni may not.
Lively’s Team Declares Victory
Lively’s side clearly sees this as another legal victory. A statement from her representative reads:
“The Court dismissed the frivolous $400 million Baldoni-Wayfarer lawsuit in its entirety. In the days that followed, Baldoni’s lawyer said the judge’s decision to dismiss their case was not a big deal as they promised to amend and refile it. As per usual, that was not true. The Court’s dismissal of Baldoni’s lawsuit was a total victory after all.”
What’s Next?
Although Baldoni’s counter-suit has crumbled, Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni remains active and is scheduled to go to trial in March 2026.
Based on all statements so far, a settlement seems unlikely, and Lively appears fully prepared to testify.
