NEW YORK (Azat TV) – A federal judge in New York has significantly narrowed the legal battle between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, dismissing key components of Lively’s lawsuit, including allegations of sexual harassment on the set of their film, It Ends With Us. In a ruling issued on April 2, 2026, Judge Lewis Liman tossed out 10 of 13 original claims, reshaping the legal landscape just weeks before the parties are scheduled to head to trial on May 18.
Legal Reasoning Behind the Dismissal
Judge Liman’s decision centered largely on the legal classification of the relationship between the two stars during the production. The court determined that Lively operated as an independent contractor rather than an employee, rendering her unable to pursue sexual harassment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Furthermore, the judge noted that many of the specific interactions cited by Lively, while contentious, did not meet the threshold for creating a hostile work environment, as they were often contextualized within the film’s adult themes and character dynamics.
Remaining Claims and Future Stakes
Despite the dismissal of the harassment allegations, the case is not over. Judge Liman allowed Lively to proceed with claims of retaliation, aiding and abetting in retaliation, and breach of contract. The court found that allegations regarding an orchestrated smear campaign by Baldoni’s public relations team “at least arguably crossed the line,” particularly regarding the potential impact on Lively’s professional marketability. Legal representatives for both sides have expressed their respective positions, with Baldoni’s team welcoming the dismissal of the individual defendants and the harassment claims, while Lively’s counsel remains focused on the upcoming trial regarding the alleged retaliatory actions.
The Path to the May Trial
The ruling follows months of high-profile legal maneuvering, including a failed court-ordered settlement conference in February. As the May 18 trial date approaches, the focus now shifts to the remaining retaliation claims. The resolution of this dispute carries substantial weight for both actors, as the case has drawn widespread public attention since its inception in December 2024. With the sexual harassment component removed, the trial will now serve as a venue to determine whether the actions taken by the production’s team after the film’s release constituted legally actionable harm to Lively’s career.
The narrowing of the case underscores a pivotal shift in the litigation, moving the focus away from the on-set interpersonal dynamics and toward the digital and public relations strategies employed by the parties. By limiting the scope of the trial, the court has effectively reduced the potential for a broader exploration of workplace conduct, concentrating the upcoming legal proceedings on the more concrete, albeit complex, issues of professional retaliation and contractual obligations.