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Final Judgment Ends Baldoni’s Defamation Suits Against Lively, Reynolds and the Times

Next steps include a March trial on Lively’s harassment claims plus a pending fee motion citing alleged evidence concealment by Baldoni’s team.

Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman entered final judgment on Oct. 31 after Baldoni and Wayfarer missed the deadline to amend or appeal and failed to answer an Oct. 17 show‑cause order.
  • The court’s June dismissal found that statements drawn from Lively’s Civil Rights Department complaint and related New York Times reporting were protected by litigation and reporting privileges.
  • Baldoni had sought $400 million from Lively and Ryan Reynolds and earlier $250 million from the Times, and the judge ruled Reynolds’ “sexual predator” comment could not support a defamation claim.
  • Lively has moved to recover millions in attorneys’ fees and alleges in filings that Baldoni’s associates used auto‑deleting apps and coordinated PR efforts to conceal evidence.
  • Baldoni retains the option to appeal after fee issues are resolved, while Lively’s separate harassment and retaliation case remains scheduled for trial in March.