Judge Tosses $400 Million Lawsuit Against Blake Lively and New York Times
A defamation and extortion lawsuit against actress Blake Lively was dismissed Monday on the grounds allegations made in a separate lawsuit are exempt from claims of libel. The lawsuit was filed by actor and director…
A defamation and extortion lawsuit against actress Blake Lively was dismissed Monday on the grounds allegations made in a separate lawsuit are exempt from claims of libel.
The lawsuit was filed by actor and director Justin Baldoni, Lively’s costar in “It Ends With Us.” His lawsuit was filed in response to a lawsuit Lively filed against Baldoni in which she accuses her costar of sexual harassment and retaliation, per the Associated Press.
On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman ruled the $400 million lawsuit filed against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, was dismissed. The judge also ruled that an allegation made by Baldoni that Lively took over creative control of the movie was not extortion under California law.
Lively was accused of refusing to promote the movie, but as Liman wrote, Wayfarer Studios does “not allege facts showing that Lively had an obligation to promote the film or to approve marketing materials.”
Baldoni can revise the lawsuit if he wants to pursue a different breach of contract allegation against Lively, Liman said.
“Today’s opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively