Justin Baldoni is vowing to continue his legal battle with ‘It Ends With Us’ costar Blake Lively, despite his lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, being dismissed.
Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman told Us Weekly in a statement: “Ms. Lively and her team’s predictable declaration of victory is false, so let us be clear about the latest ruling. While the Court dismissed the defamation-related claims, the Court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations. This case is about false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign, which Ms. Lively’s own team conveniently describes as ‘untraceable’ because they cannot prove what never happened … Most importantly, Ms. Lively’s own claims are no truer today than they were yesterday, and with the facts on our side, we march forward with the same confidence that we had when Ms. Lively and her cohorts initiated this battle and look forward to her forthcoming deposition, which I will be taking. We are grateful for the organic show of support from the public and for the dedication of the Internet sleuth community who continue to cover the case with discernment and integrity.”
On Monday, June 9, Judge Lewis J. Liman tossed out the case Baldoni made against Lively, Reynolds, and the New York Times in a $400 million lawsuit that accused them of of extortion and defamation. The judge stated that Baldoni and his legal team could amend the claims for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract, with the deadline to do so given as June 23.
Lively’s legal team called the judge’s opinion “a total victory and a complete vindication.” Lively’s lawyers Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb said: “As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it. We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.”
Lively also made her first statement after the lawsuit’s dismissal, writing on social media: “Last week, I stood proudly alongside 19 organizations united in defending women’s rights to speak up for their safety. Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us. While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back. I’m more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity and their story.” Lively ended her statement “with love and gratitude for the many who stood by me, many of you I know. Many of you I don’t, But I will never stop appreciating or advocating for you. — B.”
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