Blake Lively Wants Justin Baldoni to Pay $8 Million in Legal Bills From Court Fight

Blake Lively has asked a federal court to order Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, to reimburse more than $8 million in legal fees and litigation costs following their high-profile legal dispute over It Ends With Us.

The request comes weeks after a judge ruled that Lively could recover the attorney fees she spent defending herself against Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit. The court denied her request for punitive damages, leaving only the amount of reimbursable legal expenses for the judge to determine.

Lively is seeking approximately $8.04 million, including about $7.5 million in attorney fees and more than $500,000 in litigation costs. Her legal team says the amount reflects months of intensive legal work, document reviews, expert consultations, travel, and court appearances throughout the lengthy case.

Her attorneys argue that Baldoni filed the $400 million defamation lawsuit to retaliate against Lively after she raised allegations of workplace misconduct during the production of It Ends With Us. They also contend that California law allows defendants who successfully defeat retaliatory lawsuits to recover their legal expenses.

The legal battle began when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation during the film’s production. Baldoni denied the allegations and responded by filing a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and several others.

The judge later dismissed Baldoni’s lawsuit, and both sides reached a settlement in May 2026. Although neither party paid the other any settlement money, the agreement preserved Lively’s right to seek reimbursement for her legal fees.

In the latest filing, Lively’s attorneys argue that requiring Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios to pay her legal costs would discourage retaliatory litigation and strengthen protections for people who report alleged misconduct. They also note that the case required an enormous legal effort, including reviewing thousands of documents and managing extensive litigation under intense public scrutiny.

Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios must respond to Lively’s request by July 13. After reviewing both sides’ arguments, the judge will decide whether to award the full $8.04 million or a different amount.

The ruling could bring one of Hollywood’s most closely watched legal disputes surrounding It Ends With Us to a close.