Trial for Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni set for May eighteenth

A federal judge in New York has dismissed the majority of Blake Lively’s lawsuit against her It Ends with Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.

In a 152-page ruling issued on Thursday, Judge Lewis J. Liman tossed out ten of the thirteen claims filed by the actress, including allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy.

The judge determined that Lively’s sexual harassment claims could not proceed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act because she was an independent contractor rather than a traditional employee.

Furthermore, Judge Liman noted that much of the conduct cited occurred during filming, stating that "creative artists... must have some amount of space to experiment within the bounds of an agreed script."

Despite these dismissals, the court has allowed three significant claims to move forward to a jury trial scheduled for 18 May 2026.

These include allegations of retaliation and breach of a contract rider agreement against Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios.

Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively’s legal team, stated that the case remains focused on the "extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set."

The legal team expressed satisfaction that the "playbook" behind the alleged digital attacks has been exposed.

While Baldoni has consistently denied the claims, the upcoming trial will examine whether his team engaged in a smear campaign to "bury" Lively’s career following her reports of misconduct during the 2023 production.