The legal fight between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is still making headlines, even though their biggest courtroom battle has already ended. This time, the discussion isn’t about new allegations or another lawsuit. It’s about money.
Blake Lively has now asked a federal judge to make Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios pay more than $8 million for the legal fees and expenses she says she had to spend defending herself. Cases like this often continue long after a settlement, and that’s exactly what’s happening here.
Blake Lively Wants More Than $8 Million for Legal Costs
According to a new court filing, Blake Lively is asking for $8,035,040.88 in total. Out of that amount, around $7.49 million is for attorney fees, while another $539,514 covers litigation costs and other expenses.
Her lawyers say this wasn’t an ordinary legal battle. They argue the case became unusually expensive because of the huge amount of media attention, thousands of legal documents, witness preparation, and months of court work. Their point is simple. Since the court dismissed Baldoni’s defamation claims, they believe those costs should now be reimbursed.
Why Blake Lively Believes She Deserves the Money
This request didn’t come out of nowhere.
Earlier this month, Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Blake Lively has the legal right to seek attorney fees under California Civil Code Section 47.1. That law is meant to protect people who report sexual harassment or retaliation from being targeted through retaliatory defamation lawsuits.
The judge agreed she could ask for reimbursement of legal expenses. However, he rejected her request for additional punitive damages and triple damages, saying those would need to be pursued separately if at all. So while Lively scored an important legal win, it wasn’t a complete victory on every issue.
Justin Baldoni Still Has One More Chance to Respond
The court hasn’t awarded the money yet.
Judge Liman has given Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios until July 13 to respond to Blake Lively’s request. After reviewing both sides, the judge can approve the full amount, reduce it, or reject parts of the request.
That’s why this dispute isn’t completely over. The settlement may have ended the main lawsuit, but the financial side of the case is still very much alive.
How This Legal Battle Started
If you’ve been following the story, you’ll know this all began during the production of It Ends With Us.
Back in late 2024, Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation connected to the making of the film. Baldoni denied those allegations and later filed a massive $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others.
Over time, both sides fought through months of legal filings before eventually reaching a settlement in May 2026, just before the case was expected to go to trial. No money exchanged hands in that settlement, but both parties agreed that the court could still decide the question of attorney fees.
Blake Lively’s Lawyers Say the Lawsuit Became Needlessly Expensive
Lively’s legal team argues that defending against the defamation lawsuit required an enormous amount of work.
According to their filing, they reviewed thousands of documents, handled extensive discovery, responded to constant legal motions, and dealt with intense media coverage throughout the case. They also claim Blake Lively has already paid these legal bills herself and continues to receive invoices as the fee dispute moves forward.
Their position is that none of these costs would have existed if the dismissed lawsuit had never been filed in the first place.
Baldoni’s Legal Team Sees It Differently
Justin Baldoni’s lawyers have taken a very different view.
Earlier this month, attorney Bryan Freedman argued that Blake Lively only became eligible for limited attorney fees connected to one legal claim. He also pointed out that the judge rejected her request for punitive damages and argued that her legal victory has been overstated.
So while Lively’s team is calling the ruling a complete vindication, Baldoni’s lawyers continue to insist the decision was much narrower than it appears.
That difference in interpretation is exactly why the fight over legal fees is still happening.
What Happens Next?
The next important date is July 13, when Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios are expected to file their formal response.
After reviewing both arguments, Judge Lewis J. Liman will decide whether Blake Lively receives the full $8.04 million, a smaller amount, or only part of what she’s requesting.
Whatever the outcome, one thing is already clear. Even after settling the main lawsuit, the legal fallout from It Ends With Us is far from finished, and this latest ruling could influence how similar cases involving retaliation and legal fee recovery are handled in the future.
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