Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have taken the public on a legal rollercoaster. Just when people thought it was over after they reached a last-minute settlement earlier this month, the saga continues. While the former It Ends With Us co-stars avoided what was shaping up to be one of Hollywood's messiest courtroom battles, one major issue is still unresolved - money.
© AFP via Getty ImagesAccording to court filings, a judge ordered Lively and Baldoni's representatives back to a New York court on Monday to address attorneys' fees, litigation expenses, and possible damages.
Page Six reports that Lively is requesting that Baldoni pay her legal fees and costs from his now-dismissed $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively. The outlet notes she is seeking triple damages and punitive damages, but the exact amount is unclear.
© GettyThe dispute centers on a California law designed to protect people who report sexual harassment or retaliation from retaliatory defamation lawsuits.
Under the California statute, Lively now has to prove that she successfully defeated the defamation claims against her, that the lawsuit was connected to her allegations of harassment or retaliation, and that her statements were made without malice.
© GettyIf the court agrees, Baldoni's side could be ordered to pay Lively's legal fees and potentially additional damages. According to reports, Baldoni has already agreed to accept whatever ruling the judge ultimately makes.
There will be no jury, and the judge will determine whether Baldoni and the other defendants owe anything and, if so, how much.
What's next for Baldoni?
As for what's next for Baldoni, his attorney, Bryan Freedman, told TMZ outside the courthouse that he will be back at work soon. Either in the entertainment industry or as an advocate for people who believe they have been "wrongfully accused of something and really beaten up by a power dynamic."
© Jose Perez/Bauer-GriffinFreedman added that Baldoni has been deeply affected by the legal battle and is still dealing with the fallout from the past year and a half.
A never-ending drama
The latest hearing comes after months of lawsuits, countersuits, and messy headlines. From Taylor Swift getting dragged into the mix and leaked A-list texts, it turned the It Ends With Us production into one of the most talked-about Hollywood feuds since Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
Baldoni's $400 million countersuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and others was dismissed, while several of Lively's original claims were also dismissed before the settlement was reached.
Despite the settlement, they both tried to claim victory afterward. “This settlement is a resounding victory for Blake Lively,” her attorneys, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, said after details of the agreement became public.
They argued that Baldoni and the other defendants now face accountability for what they described as an attempt to “silence and intimidate” the actress through litigation.
© John NacionAs for Freedman, he told TMZ at the time, “Let’s be clear, this is a win and total victory for the Wayfarer parties." “The court had already dismissed 10 of Ms. Lively’s 13 claims, including every sexual harassment claim, every defamation claim, and all claims against the individual defendants. Ms. Lively voluntarily dismissed the rest. In our view, they settled because they knew they were going to lose in court.”
