Blake Lively Seeks $8 Million in Legal Costs from Justin Baldoni
Quick Look
- Blake Lively is seeking US$8 million in legal costs from Justin Baldoni following their dispute over the production of their film 'It Ends With Us'.
- Lively's lawyers filed the request, covering nearly $7.5 million in fees and $500,000 in expenses.
- A judge ruled she can recover costs after Baldoni filed a countersuit.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni had a dispute over the production of their 2024 film 'It Ends With Us'. The dispute has led to legal proceedings, including a countersuit by Baldoni against Lively.
Blake Lively is seeking US$8 million in legal costs from actor and director Justin Baldoni after resolving their dispute over the acrimonious production of their 2024 film It Ends With Us.
Lively’s lawyers disclosed the amount, covering nearly US$7.5 million in lawyers’ fees from two law firms that represented her and about US$500,000 in other expenses, in a court filing on Tuesday.
Lively received no money in the settlement but a judge subsequently ruled that she is entitled to recover some legal costs she incurred after Baldoni filed a countersuit against her. The judge must still approve the amount she is seeking.
One of Lively’s lawyers, Michael Gottlieb, wrote in a court declaration that he charged her an average hourly rate of US$2,187 – a discount from his usual US$2,795 per hour. He said he billed 224 hours for work on her defence to Baldoni’s countersuit, totalling US$457,000 in fees.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Judge will rule on the approval of Lively's requested legal costs.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the judge approve the full amount sought?
- What were the specific reasons for the production dispute?
