Justin Baldoni’s Lawyer Breaks Silence on Blake Lively’s ‘False’ Victory After His Lawsuit Is Dismissed

Justin Baldoni’s attorney is breaking his silence after his $400 million countersuit against Blake Lively was dismissed by the judge.

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE Tuesday, June 10, the It Ends With Us actor-director’s lawyer Bryan Freedman, said Lively and her team’s “predictable declaration of victory is false.”

On June 9, Judge Lewis J. Liman granted motions to dismiss Baldoni’s countersuit against Lively, 37, her husband Ryan Reynolds and their publicist, which alleged extortion and defamation, as well as his $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times.

The judge noted that Baldoni’s legal team can still amend the claims for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract, with a deadline of June 23.

“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,” Freedman said in his statement.

He added, “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.”

Baldoni’s legal setback is the latest twist in the It Ends with Us legal saga, which began in December when Lively sued him for misconduct on the set and a retaliatory smear campaign, claims which he has denied.

“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,” Freedman added in his statement. “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.”

Pointing to a California law passed in the wake of the #MeToo movement, Judge Liman ruled that Lively’s sexual harassment allegations were legally protected and couldn’t be used as grounds for a defamation claim.

Further, Baldoni and his fellow plaintiffs associated with production company Wayfarer Studios “have not alleged that Reynolds, [publicist Leslie] Sloane or the Times would have seriously doubted” Lively’s initial claims, which doesn’t prove they defamed Baldoni, the judge wrote.

Lively’s legal team called the judge’s decision “a total victory and a complete vindication” in a statement: “As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it.”

On her Instagram Stories on Monday, Lively wrote of “the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit,” linking to several women’s rights organizations. “While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back. I’m more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves.”

She concluded, “With love and gratitude for the many who stood by me, many of you I know. Many of you I don’t. But I will never stop appreciating or advocating for you.”

The trial is still scheduled for March 2026.