Overview

• Judge Lewis J. Liman granted motions to dismiss Baldoni’s $400 million defamation countersuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane as well as his $250 million libel suit against the New York Times.
• The ruling found that Lively’s December sexual harassment complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department is legally privileged and that the Times’s coverage is protected by fair report privilege.
• Baldoni may amend and refile claims for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract by the June 23 deadline.
• Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, called the decision a “total victory and complete vindication” and said they will seek attorneys’ fees, treble damages and punitive damages for what they described as abusive litigation.
• Baldoni’s legal team said it will refine its allegations and move forward with the remaining contract-related claims, maintaining confidence in the merits of his case.