The never-ending legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni just continues to take us on a rollercoaster against our will. Just days after publicly breaking his silence following his settlement, Lively, Baldoni, and his legal team are now asking a federal judge to reject or dramatically reduce Lively's legal fee request.
© GettyThe new filing marks what could hopefully be the final financial dispute left between the former co-stars after they reached a last-minute settlement earlier this year, sparing the public the experience of watching their highly anticipated trial.
According to court documents filed Monday and obtained by PEOPLE, Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios argue that Lively's request for more than $8 million is far beyond what would be considered reasonable.
© GettyHis legal team claims the case was overstaffed, alleging dozens of attorneys and staff billed more than 7,000 hours while describing the requested fees as excessive.
They're asking the judge to either deny Lively's motion altogether or significantly reduce any award, arguing she has failed to demonstrate that the more than $8 million in fees and over $539,000 in litigation costs are reasonable.
As part of their argument, Baldoni's attorneys pointed to The New York Times' successful defense against a related defamation claim, noting the newspaper sought roughly $181,000 in legal fees after securing its dismissal - far less than the more than $8 million Lively is now requesting. "At minimum, the Court should substantially reduce the request, using as a benchmark the $181,622.70 the Times sought after securing dismissal of Count II on its separate motion to dismiss – the same outcome Lively achieved," it argues.
Lively, however, has maintained that the amount reflects the extraordinary legal work required to defeat what her attorneys have repeatedly characterized as a retaliatory defamation lawsuit.
The request stems from Judge Lewis J. Liman's earlier ruling allowing Lively to seek attorneys' fees under California Civil Code Section 47.1, a law designed to protect people who report sexual harassment or retaliation from being punished through retaliatory defamation lawsuits.
© Jose Perez/Bauer-GriffinThat issue was intentionally carved out of the settlement reached before trial. While both sides agreed to end the broader litigation, they left the question of attorneys' fees and possible damages for the judge to decide.
Under the agreement, neither party will be able to appeal whatever decision is ultimately made. The court has not yet ruled on the request.
Baldoni breaks his silence:
© GC ImagesThe filing also comes less than a week after Baldoni addressed the years-long legal saga publicly for the first time. In an Instagram video alongside his wife, Emily Baldoni, the actor said he and his family had intentionally stayed silent throughout the litigation because "it didn't feel like the right time."
Emily acknowledged the "pain" and "injustice" they experienced during the ordeal, while Baldoni said gratitude had helped carry them through. Although both said they are focused on healing, the latest court filing shows that at least one piece of the It Ends With Us legal battle is still very much alive.
