Justin Baldoni Files Legal Action Against Blake Lively After Settlement

Justin Baldoni is still at odds with Blake Lively despite their settlement.

The Jane the Virgin star, 42, and Gossip Girl actress, 38, have been embroiled in legal woes since December 2024, when the actress accused her It Ends With Us director of sexual harassment, aiding and abetting harassment and causing intentional infliction of emotional distress while working on the film.

Most of Lively’s claims were dismissed by a judge. However, her claims of retaliation and breach of contract were still allowed to proceed to trial.

She eventually agreed to throw out the rest and reach a settlement with Justin’s team.

A judge ultimately said the actress is entitled to solely seek attorneys’ fees and costs related to Baldoni’s countersuit.

Lively has since requested more than $8 million in fees and litigation costs. In addition, she is seeking “$539,514.01 in costs and expenses.”

Now, their feud has refueled as Baldoni’s legal team reviews the “whopping” amount and asks the court to deny or “substantially reduce” the costs.

On Monday, July 13, the actor’s lawyers filed the request, arguing Lively’s defense was overstaffed and “excessive.”

“The most cursory review of Lively’s submission shows multiple lawyers at the same hearings, numerous charges for lawyers conferencing, conferring, or strategizing with one another, and to put it mildly, extremely excessive research and online investigation,” the filing claimed.

“Lively fails to meet her burden to present credible evidence showing that the fees and costs she seeks to recover are reasonable and, accordingly, her fee motion should be denied in its entirety,” her team added.

Baldoni’s team then suggested the court should “at minimum… substantially reduce the request” to reflect $181,622.70, which is the amount The New York Times sought after the actor accused the magazine of the same defamation claim.

Lively has defended the team hired to defeat the lawsuit was “comprehensive and necessary to achieve the complete win that was secured.”

The actress mentioned she “has paid, and continues to pay” her legal bills.

She also plans to seek any additional fees that come from the fee application itself.