Overview

• Blake Lively has filed a motion to dismiss Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit, citing California's Assembly Bill 933, which shields individuals reporting harassment, assault, or discrimination from defamation claims unless proven malicious or false.
• The legal filing argues that Baldoni's lawsuit is retaliatory, legally baseless, and part of a broader campaign to discredit Lively after her allegations of sexual misconduct and retaliation.
• Justin Baldoni denies Lively's allegations and has filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against her and the New York Times, along with a $400 million countersuit alleging conspiracy involving Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and her PR team.
• The dispute raises significant jurisdictional questions, as the court must determine whether California or New York law applies, with potential implications for future defamation cases under Assembly Bill 933.
• Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, criticized Lively's motion as an abuse of the legal system, accusing her of twisting laws for personal advantage.