Blake Lively seeks millions from Justin Baldoni 

Blake Lively is demanding millions of dollars in damages from Justin Baldoni after his $400 million defamation lawsuit against her was dismissed earlier this year. The case is emerging as a key test of a California law designed to protect sexual harassment survivors who speak out.

Lively has accused Baldoni, her director and co-star in It Ends With Us, of sexually harassing her on set and retaliating with an online smear campaign after she complained. Baldoni responded with a defamation suit, alleging she fabricated claims to damage his career, but US District Judge Lewis Liman threw out the case in June.

On Monday, Lively's attorneys filed a motion arguing she should be awarded "multiple millions" to cover legal fees, emotional harm, and punitive damages, citing the 2023 Protecting Survivors from Weaponised Defamation Lawsuits Act. The law shields accusers from defamation suits if their claims have a reasonable basis and are made without malice.

Baldoni's lawyers maintain the statute does not apply, insisting Lively exaggerated interactions for personal gain and arguing its use would improperly preempt a trial. Meanwhile, a separate trial on Lively's harassment allegations remains scheduled for next spring in federal court in New York.