Baldoni's $400M Countersuit Dismissed; NYT Case Tossed

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios’ $400 million defamation/extortion countersuit against Blake Lively and co-defendants — including Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane — after Baldoni failed to file an amended complaint by the court’s deadline. The judge had earlier in June dismissed key defamation claims while allowing limited amendment on certain contract-related claims and warned on Oct. 17 he would enter final judgment if parties did not respond; only Lively asked the court to declare final judgment while preserving her request for legal fees. Baldoni’s separate libel case against The New York Times was also dismissed. Lively’s original sexual-harassment lawsuit against Baldoni remains pending and is slated for trial in March 2026. Lively’s lawyers are pursuing legal fees and other damages, and Baldoni retains the right to appeal the dismissal once the court rules on Lively’s fee motion. Baldoni continues to deny Lively’s allegations.