SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN JUSTIN BALDONI'S $400,000,000 LAWSUIT AGAINST BLAKE LIVELY AFTER THE JUDGE'S INITIAL DISMISSAL
There has been a major update in Justin Baldoni's whopping $400,000,000 case against Blake Lively. At the beginning of the year, Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios filed a lawsuit against Lively and her spouse, Ryan Reynolds, seeking a substantial amount of money and alleging defamation.
However, earlier this month, a judge threw out Baldoni's multi-million dollar lawsuit since the accusations made by Lively in her initial December suit regarding her It Ends With Us co-star are protected from libel claims. Detailing the rationale, Judge Liman stated (through Fox News): "The Wayfarer Parties have not claimed that Lively is accountable for any remarks aside from those in her CRD complaint, which are protected."
"The Wayfarer Parties have alleged that Reynolds and [publicist Leslie] Sloane made additional statements accusing Baldoni of sexual misconduct and that the Times made additional statements accusing the Wayfarer Parties of engaging in a smear campaign."
The judge concluded: "But the Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Reynolds, Sloane or the Times would have seriously doubted these statements were true based on the information available to them, as is required for them to be liable for defamation under applicable law."
In response to the dismissal, Lively stated: "Like many others, I've experienced the hurt of a retaliatory lawsuit, along with the fabricated shame that aims to shatter us. Although I won the lawsuit against me, many lack the means to retaliate. "I’m more determined than ever to advocate for every woman’s right to have a say in safeguarding themselves, including their safety, their dignity, their integrity, and their narrative."
However, Baldoni's legal team swiftly reacted and dismissed Lively's perceived assertion of success, affirming that Baldoni had been asked to revise his complaint. "Although the Court rejected the defamation claims, it has encouraged us to revise four of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will present supplementary evidence and clarify accusations," stated the director's attorney, Bryan Freedman.
However, in a new update, it has been revealed that Baldoni will not refile the suit with any amendments. Freedman told PEOPLE in a statement: "The Court’s decision on the motion to dismiss has no effect whatsoever on the truth that there was no harassment nor any smear campaign, and it does not in any way affect our vigorous defence against Ms. Lively’s claims."
"Discovery is proceeding, and we are confident that we will prevail against these factually baseless accusations," he continued.
"Instead of revising the existing claims, our clients will be pursuing additional legal options that are available to us."
Freedman did not disclose the 'additional legal options' they plan on pursuing.
In response to this news, Lively's legal team told PEOPLE: "The Court dismissed the frivolous $400 million Baldoni-Wayfarer lawsuit in its entirety. In the days that followed, Baldoni’s lawyer said the judge’s decision to dismiss their case was not a big deal, as they promised to amend and refile it.”
"As per usual, that was not true. The Court’s dismissal of Baldoni’s sham lawsuit was a total victory after all."
