Justin Baldoni’s lawyer criticises Blake Lively after judge awards limited attorney fees

Attorney accused Lively’s team of shaping public perception through selective interpretations of the court’s decision

Justin Baldoni’s attorney has criticised Blake Lively following a court ruling that awarded the actress limited attorney fees in their ongoing legal dispute stemming from It Ends With Us.

The latest comments came after US District Judge Lewis J Liman ruled that Lively could seek attorney fees and litigation costs related to Baldoni’s previously dismissed countersuit. However, the judge rejected her request to pursue additional punitive and treble damages, handing both sides a mixed outcome in the high-profile case.

In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman argued that the ruling was far more limited than Lively’s legal team had portrayed.

“Once again, the court rejected Ms Lively's attempt to seek additional damages,” Freedman said, maintaining that the actress had not secured the sweeping victory her representatives suggested.

The attorney also accused Lively’s team of attempting to shape public perception through selective interpretations of the court’s decision. According to Freedman, the ruling largely reinforced the judge’s previous findings while narrowing the scope of what Lively can recover.

The dispute began after Lively filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment and retaliation connected to the production of It Ends With Us, the 2024 adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. Baldoni denied the allegations and later filed a defamation countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and others.

That countersuit was dismissed earlier this year, prompting Lively’s legal team to seek attorney fees and additional damages under California laws designed to protect individuals who report harassment and subsequently face retaliatory legal action.

Following the latest ruling, a spokesperson for Lively characterised the decision as a victory, arguing that the court had affirmed her right to recover legal expenses incurred while defending herself against the countersuit.

Baldoni’s representatives, however, pushed back against that characterisation, emphasising that the judge declined to award the enhanced damages sought by the actress and did not fully grant her motion.

The exact amount of attorney fees and costs Lively may ultimately receive has not yet been determined and will be decided in future proceedings.

The legal battle between the former co-stars has attracted significant attention since erupting after the release of It Ends With Us, which became a major box-office success despite the controversy surrounding its production.

While several core claims between the parties have already been resolved or dismissed, the dispute continues to generate headlines as both sides fight over legal costs, public statements and the fallout from one of Hollywood’s most closely watched courtroom battles.