Judge Dismisses Most of Blake Lively's Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni
A federal judge has dismissed the majority of Blake Lively's claims against Justin Baldoni, including sexual harassment allegations, while allowing retaliation claims to proceed to trial.
A federal judge in New York has dismissed most of actress Blake Lively's lawsuit against her "It Ends With Us" co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, eliminates 10 of the 13 claims, including those of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. However, three claims—breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation—will proceed to trial, scheduled to begin on May 18.
Judge Liman determined that Lively, as an independent contractor, is not protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, leading to the dismissal of the sexual harassment claims. Despite this, allegations regarding Baldoni's on-set behavior may still be considered within the context of the remaining claims.
In response to the ruling, Lively emphasized her commitment to addressing workplace safety and retaliation. She stated, "I will never stop doing my part in fighting to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence and retaliate against victims."
Baldoni's legal team expressed satisfaction with the dismissal of the majority of claims. Attorneys Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach remarked, "We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants."
The case has garnered significant public attention, highlighting ongoing discussions about workplace conduct and the challenges individuals face when addressing alleged misconduct in the entertainment industry.