Overview
- U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Liman entered an Oct. 31 order closing the counterclaim after Baldoni missed the deadline to file an amended complaint following a June dismissal.
- The ruling leaves the underlying case proceeding on Lively’s claims, which are expected to reach trial in March 2026, according to reports.
- Baldoni’s counterclaim had accused Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and others of defamation and extortion, and a related $250 million suit against the New York Times had already been rejected.
- The closure reflects a procedural lapse rather than a ruling on the merits of the misconduct allegations.
- Baldoni continues to deny wrongdoing, while Lively’s recent filings seek fees and allege obstructive tactics such as auto-deleting messages.