Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s ugly legal battle isn’t over just yet, as the actress still has a pending motion connected to her “It Ends With Us” co-star’s dismissed lawsuit against her.
Although the pair reached a surprising settlement in Lively’s complaint against Baldoni on Monday, the “Gossip Girl” alum is still seeking attorneys’ fees and damages from the director’s failed lawsuit, according to Variety.
Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation, extortion and more in January 2025 – one month after the 38-year-old actress filed her lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, retaliation and a smear campaign.
Lively’s team filed a motion to dismiss the 42-year-old director’s countersuit and requested attorneys’ fees and damages under a California law called the Protecting Survivors from Weaponized Defamation Lawsuits Act, which was created in 2023 to protect sexual abuse accusers from retaliatory claims.
While the judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit in June 2025, he didn’t rule on whether the 2023 law applied.
The judge also denied Lively’s claim for attorney’s fees and damages under the act, but allowed her to renew the motion, which she did in September 2025.
Baldoni’s team then opposed the motion in October 2025, arguing that Lively’s motion violated Baldoni’s constitutional right to petition the courts.
They also argued that the California law shouldn’t apply because the alleged incidents occurred in New York and New Jersey, where “It Ends With Us” was predominantly filmed.
A judge has yet to rule on the pending motion, per Variety, and the “A Simple Favor” star hasn’t withdrawn the motion.
Lively’s reps did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
The revelation that the actress is still seeking fees and damages from Baldoni over his countersuit comes after the pair settled Lively’s December 2024 lawsuit on Monday.
The case was set to go to trial on May 18, and the settlement came just weeks after a judge threw out 10 of 13 of Lively’s claims.
“The end product — the movie ‘It Ends With Us’ — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life,” both sides said in a joint statement to Page Six.
“Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind.”
Page Six has since learned that the former co-stars spent a combined $60 million to sue one another, and neither saw a dime in their settlement.
One insider told us that while both parties “did major damage” to their reputations in Hollywood, Lively stands a better chance of “re-emerging” from the drama than Baldoni.
“I would struggle to hire both of them, but I would gamble on her,” the source shared of Lively, who hit the Met Gala just hours after the settlement. “There’s a pretty big downside for both of them, but the upside is bigger for her.”
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