Justin Baldoni must pay Blake Lively's legal fees, judge rules

NEW YORK -- A New York judge has ruled that Justin Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios must pay his former "It Ends With Us" co-star Blake Lively's attorneys' fees, after the parties reached a settlement last month in Lively's lawsuit against the actor and production studio.

The judge denied Lively's claim for punitive damages.

During a court hearing in April, Lively's attorneys argued she should be entitled to payment because of reputational damages and lost jobs and business opportunities she allegedly suffered because of Baldoni's countersuit.

In a decision issued Friday, Southern District Judge Lewis Liman wrote Lively is not entitled to punitive damages under the law her attorneys cited.

"Lively has chosen the wrong procedural vehicle," Liman wrote.

The amount of the damages was included in the judge's order.

This decision comes after the It Ends With Us co-stars reached a settlement in legal battle that began in 2024.

Lively filed a lawsuit alleging she was sexually harassed on the set of It Ends with Us. A judge dismissed the harassment claims but allowed her claim of retaliation to proceed. A trial was scheduled to start May 18 before Lively and Baldoni jointly announced a settlement.

Baldoni denied Lively's claims and countersued for defamation; a judge dismissed his suit last summer.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.