Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni appear in NYC court amid legal battle

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni attend NYC settlement conference as legal dispute nears possible May trial date soon

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni were spotted arriving at a federal courthouse in New York City on February 11 for a court-ordered settlement conference tied to their ongoing legal dispute related to the film It Ends With Us. 

The meeting represents a critical step in determining whether the high-profile case can be resolved without proceeding to trial.

Lively, 38, arrived alone at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, dressed in a pale green suit and sweater. Baldoni, 42, appeared alongside his wife, Emily Baldoni, whom he has been married to since 2013. The conference is being overseen by U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave and follows standard federal civil litigation procedures aimed at encouraging both parties to reach a settlement.

The dispute dates back to December 2024, when Lively filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us costar and director, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni has denied the allegations. He later filed a $400 million countersuit, which was ultimately dismissed. Lively has also claimed she suffered financial losses totaling approximately $161 million due to what she described as a retaliatory smear campaign.

According to legal expert Gregory Doll, who is not representing either party, settlement conferences often last an entire day and remain fully confidential. If no agreement is reached, statements made during the meeting cannot be used during the trial.

Legal analysts note that many cases are settled at this stage, as both sides may seek to avoid lengthy courtroom proceedings and mounting legal costs. If negotiations fail, the civil trial is currently scheduled to begin on May 18.