Arabic version: قاضي يرفض معظم الادعاءات في دعوى بلايك لايفلي ضد بالدوني

A federal judge has dismissed 10 of the 13 claims made by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni and others involved in the film “It Ends With Us.” Judge Lewis Liman ruled on Thursday that Lively’s allegations, which included sexual harassment, conspiracy, and defamation, were not substantiated enough to proceed to trial.

According to The Guardian, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, characterized the defendants as “very good people who have not engaged in this sexual harassment as alleged” and expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling. Freedman stated that the legal team had confidence in their position from the beginning and emphasized that Baldoni and his co-defendants had not engaged in the alleged misconduct.

In a detailed 152-page opinion, Liman noted that Lively’s claims should be viewed in the context of the film’s production. The film, which revolves around domestic abuse, contains intimate scenes between Lively and Baldoni’s characters. Liman concluded that Baldoni’s actions during filming were part of his role and not indicative of sexual harassment.

Liman further clarified that Lively was not entitled to bring sexual harassment claims against Baldoni because she was working as an independent contractor, rather than an employee. This ruling narrows the focus of Lively’s case, which will now proceed to trial on the basis of allegations related to a negative retaliatory campaign against her.

In response to the ruling, Lively’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, expressed her belief that the exposure of the defendants’ actions is a significant step toward justice. She highlighted that even though the court dismissed the sexual harassment claims, it did not imply that the defendants acted appropriately.

The trial is set to begin on May 18, 2025, as the legal battle continues between Lively and Baldoni following the release of their film in August 2024.