A federal judge in New York has dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against actor and director Justin Baldoni, significantly narrowing her lawsuit ahead of a scheduled trial. The ruling, issued by Judge Lewis J. Liman, dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Lively’s lawsuit, including harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. The remaining claims—breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation—will proceed to trial on May 18.
In his ruling, Judge Liman determined that Lively, as an independent contractor, was not entitled to bring sexual harassment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The judge also found that the Actor Loanout Agreement (ALA), which Lively cited for her claims, was unenforceable because she did not sign it. Lively’s legal team argued that the agreement’s terms were violated, but the judge ruled that the lack of a signed contract rendered the claims invalid.
Lively’s lawsuit, filed in December 2024, alleged that Baldoni engaged in inappropriate behavior during the filming of It Ends With Us, including unwanted physical contact and comments. Baldoni’s legal team countered that the alleged actions were part of the film’s creative process. The case has drawn significant attention in Hollywood, with both sides accusing the other of defamation and retaliation.
Attorneys for Baldoni welcomed the ruling, stating that the dismissed claims were serious allegations that the court carefully reviewed. Lively’s legal team emphasized that the retaliation claims remain central to the case and that she looks forward to testifying at trial. The trial is expected to delve into allegations of a smear campaign against Lively after she raised concerns about the work environment on set.