Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni's $400M countersuit against Blake Lively

Justin Baldoni's $400 million countersuit against his "It Ends with Us" costar Blake Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times has been dismissed by a judge.

The "It Ends with Us" director first sued Lively, Reynolds and the Times after the actress went public with claims Baldoni sexually harassed her and helped orchestrate a smear campaign against her. The lawsuit was filed in response to Lively's sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit in late 2024.

Judge Lewis Liman granted a June 9 motion for dismissal from Lively's legal team because Baldoni's claims of civil extortion, defamation and false light did not hold up legally. However, the judge is allowing Baldoni's team another chance to address specific claims by filing a second amended complaint by June 23.

Reynolds, Lively and Sloane's request for Baldoni to cover their attorneys' fees was denied without prejudice, meaning their request could also be refiled.

USA TODAY has reached out to Baldoni's reps for comment.

"Today's opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane and The New York Times," Lively's lawyers said in a Monday, June 9, statement to USA TODAY.

"As we have said from day one, this '$400 million' lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it," the statement continued. "We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys' fees, treble damages and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation."