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 – for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract – by June 23.

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

"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."

In a statement from the Times, the outlet said their reporting on the "It Ends with Us" fallout was approached "carefully and fairly."

"We are grateful to the court for seeing the lawsuit against The New York Times for what it was: a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting. Our journalists went out and covered carefully and fairly a story of public importance, and the court recognized that the law is designed to protect just that sort of journalism. We will continue to stand up in court for our journalism and for our journalists when their work comes under attack."

Justin Baldoni's team slams Blake Lively's team for declaring 'victory' prematurely

In a statement obtained by USA TODAY on June 10, Baldoni's lawyers slammed the Lively team's "predictable declaration of victory" in the case, suggesting they intend to refile four of their claims, as Liman has recommended.

"While the Court dismissed the defamation-related claims, the Court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations. This case is about false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign, which Ms. Lively's own team conveniently describes as 'untraceable' because they cannot prove what never happened," read the statement. "Most importantly, Ms. Lively's own claims are no truer today than they were yesterday, and with the facts on our side, we march forward with the same confidence that we had when Ms. Lively and her cohorts initiated this battle and look forward to her forthcoming deposition, which I will be taking."

Baldoni's team also took a moment to thank online followers of the case.

"We are grateful for the organic show of support from the public and for the dedication of the Internet sleuth community who continue to cover the case with discernment and integrity."

In a filing reviewed by USA TODAY, the judge noted that Baldoni's complaint focused on two main claims. First, he alleged Lively threatened to refuse to promote "It Ends with Us" and attack him publicly if he didn't agree to give her control over the movie. The complaint argued this amounted to civil extortion.

But Liman said the complaint did not adequately allege that Lively's "threats were wrongful extortion rather than legally permissible hard bargaining or renegotiation of working conditions." The judge also determined that Baldoni and his fellow plaintiffs failed to show that they were damaged by some of Lively's allegedly "extortionate acts."

Secondly, Baldoni's complaint alleged that Lively, Reynolds, Sloane and the Times "spread a false narrative that Baldoni committed sexual misconduct towards" Lively and engaged in a smear campaign against her. But the judge said the complaint did not allege that Lively "is responsible for any statements" other than those made in a California Civil Rights Department complaint, which are privileged.

As for statements made by Reynolds, Sloane and the Times, the judge said the complaint did not allege that these parties "would have seriously doubted these statements were true based on the information available to them," which is required for them to be liable for defamation.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Justin Baldoni's $400M extortion lawsuit against Blake Lively, New York Times dismissed

Reporting by Taijuan Moorman and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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