Blake Lively is fighting against Justin Baldoni’s request for dismissal.
Lively, 38, and her legal team filed a letter on Thursday, March 12, citing a recent federal appeals court ruling that allegedly proves her lawsuit against her It Ends With Us costar and director should not be dismissed. (Lively played Lily in the 2024 film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book, which Baldoni also starred in and directed.)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a previous decision stating that a case should not be dismissed due to the wording of a complaint if evidence has already been gathered, and Lively’s team cited that ruling in the letter.
Lively’s argument is that the same precedent should be followed as she gears up to battle Baldoni, 42, in court. Dismissing Lively’s case at this point “would hardly serve the efficient or just resolution of disputes” if evidence can support her allegations, Thursday’s letter read.
Us Weekly has reached out to Baldoni’s team for comment.
In December 2024, Lively filed a complaint against Lively with the California Civil Rights Department, alleging that Baldoni fostered a hostile work environment on the It Ends With Us set. She also filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. She is seeking more than $160 million in damages.
Baldoni has continued to deny Lively’s claims against him. He also filed a countersuit, which was dismissed in June 2025.
A Complete Timeline of Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni’s Lawsuit and Trial
In November 2025, Baldoni filed to dismiss Lively’s lawsuit against him, arguing that she “cannot prove any actionable sexual harassment” according to court documents.
Lively’s letter submitted on Thursday argued that the case should continue, using the full record of evidence that has already been gathered.
Lively and Baldoni recently crossed paths in court after Judge Lewis J. Liman, who is set to preside over the actors’ upcoming trial, suggested a settlement hearing. The hearing took place last month, and Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman told Deadline that settlement talks were “unsuccessful.”
He added that “there’s always a chance” of a settlement but didn’t know whether Lively and Baldoni’s talks about a potential deal would continue. Freedman noted that he is “looking forward” to the trial, set to start on May 18.
Lively and Baldoni’s trial was initially set to start this month, but Judge Liman pushed it a few months due to impending criminal trials he is overseeing.
“As important as this case is … criminal trials take precedent,” the judge previously shared.
