The legal fight between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni just took a sharp turn, but it is not slowing down anytime soon. A federal judge has officially dismissed Lively’s sexual harassment claims, while keeping the rest of her lawsuit alive as trial approaches in New York next month.
Judge Lewis Liman ruled that the claims lacked the required connection to California, writing, “None of these acts or occurrences provides the ‘substantial connection’ to California needed to sustain Lively’s sexual harassment claims.” He continued, “The Court therefore grants judgment on Counts Three and Thirteen of the SAC because those claims lack a sufficient nexus to California.”
That decision narrows the case, but it does not end it. Lively is still moving forward with defamation and retaliation claims tied to what she alleges was a coordinated effort to damage her reputation. Her attorney, Sigrid McCawley, made it clear the focus remains unchanged, saying, “This case has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set.”
On the other side, Baldoni’s legal team welcomed the ruling, stating, “We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants.”
With settlement talks already falling apart, both sides are now headed straight for trial, where a jury will decide what really went down behind the scenes.
