Overview

• On June 9, US District Judge Lewis J. Liman granted motions to dismiss Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane.
• The ruling held that statements in Lively’s December 2024 sexual harassment complaint are privileged under litigation immunity and cannot support defamation claims.
• Liman also threw out Baldoni’s separate $250 million libel lawsuit against the New York Times under the fair-report privilege.
• Baldoni’s legal team may file an amended complaint addressing breach of implied covenant and tortious interference by the June 23 deadline.
• A trial on Lively’s original harassment and retaliation complaint remains scheduled for March 2026.