Overview
- Justin Baldoni and co-defendants filed a 73-page motion for summary judgment in Manhattan federal court, arguing Blake Lively’s allegations reflect a reputational dispute that does not meet legal standards for harassment or retaliation.
- The filing contends no reasonable juror could find actionable misconduct and says Baldoni was entitled to retain crisis-management professionals to protect his reputation and the film.
- Defendants disclosed exhibits that include a deleted-scene clip they say shows Lively improvising an unscripted kiss, while the judge has not ruled on the summary judgment request or related sealing issues.
- In a separate ruling, U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra dismissed PR strategist Jed Wallace’s Texas defamation suit against Lively for lack of personal jurisdiction, with Wallace’s lawyer saying an appeal is being considered.
- Lively seeks about $161.2 million in damages and has named numerous high-profile potential witnesses, and the case remains set for trial in March 2026 in New York after earlier dismissals of Baldoni’s defamation suits.