Justin Baldoni’s Legal Team Claims Victory After Fee Award Reduction

Bryan Freedman, representing Baldoni, characterized the court’s decision as a significant win, noting that the judge rejected approximately 95% of Lively’s requested costs. Freedman argued that the court’s move to slash the fees serves as a warning against using the legal system for personal gain. While he acknowledged the importance of California Civil Code Section 47.1 in protecting sexual assault survivors, he insisted the law was applied here in ways lawmakers never intended. Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer, have agreed not to appeal the ruling to prevent further legal instability.

Conversely, Lively’s legal team, led by Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, framed the award as a historic precedent. They maintained that the outcome holds Baldoni accountable for what they described as a meritless, retaliatory lawsuit designed to silence public criticism. U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman arrived at the reduced total after determining that many of the hours billed by Lively’s defense were unreasonable or unrelated to the specific defamation claim. The dispute marks the latest chapter in the fallout from a December 2024 sexual harassment complaint and the subsequent dismissal of Baldoni’s broader litigation against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times.