SDNY Judge Narrows Claims in Lively v. Baldoni Workplace Dispute
A federal judge dismissed Blake Lively’s Title VII claims against Justin Baldoni, finding she was an independent contractor.
Why it matters: Courts continue to apply established employment standards—regardless of publicity. Legal teams must address exposure in both litigation and public forums without expecting the law to shift for high-profile disputes.
- Judge Liman dismissed 10 of 13 claims, citing Lively’s independent contractor status.
- Sexual harassment and defamation claims failed under Title VII and First Amendment law.
- Breach of contract and retaliation claims will proceed, with trial scheduled for May 18, 2026.
- The opinion reinforces that legal tests for employment and defamation remain constant, despite media coverage.
U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, in a detailed opinion dated April 2, 2026, narrowed the high-profile claims brought by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni stemming from alleged workplace misconduct on the set of 'It Ends With Us.'
- The ruling dismissed Lively’s Title VII sexual harassment and discrimination claims, holding she did not qualify as an employee per the statutory definition. The judge cited longstanding case law that Title VII protections do not extend to independent contractors.
- The opinion also rejected defamation and related tort claims, noting the court found the statements made by Baldoni fell within First Amendment protections or did not meet the legal bar for defamation, consistent with standards outlined by the U.S. Supreme Court.
- However, Lively’s claims for breach of contract and retaliation survived. These will proceed to trial on May 18, 2026, focusing on allegations of adverse action following contract disputes.
- The ongoing legal battle also saw Baldoni’s $400 million defamation suit against Lively and her team, as well as Lively’s $250 million libel claim against The New York Times, both dismissed earlier for failure to meet legal standards, according to court coverage.
Judge Liman emphasized in his ruling that legal frameworks apply identically regardless of the case's public profile. For legal counsel, this underlines the continued necessity to assess workplace dispute liability using established standards—even when under heavy media scrutiny.
By the numbers:
- 10 of 13 — Number of Lively’s claims dismissed by Judge Liman
- May 18, 2026 — Scheduled trial date for surviving claims
- $400 million — Dismissed value of Baldoni’s defamation suit against Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane
Yes, but: Breach of contract and retaliation claims remain and will be addressed in the upcoming trial.
What's next: Trial on surviving claims is scheduled for May 18, 2026, before Judge Liman in SDNY.