Blake Lively has encountered another setback in her ongoing legal dispute with It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni. According to the latest reports, a judge has denied her request to submit additional arguments in her bid to recover legal fees.
TMZ reports that court filings indicate that on Monday, a judge rejected Lively's motion to file supplemental briefs and present new evidence before a final ruling. Lively had argued that under California law, she qualifies as the prevailing party and is therefore entitled to damages and legal fees. In her filings, the actress is also seeking compensatory damages tripled, and punitive damages, significantly raising the financial stakes of the dispute.
Settlement and Costs
The update comes after both Lively and Baldoni settled their dispute just days ahead of the scheduled May 18 trial. According to Page Six, the legal battle between the It Ends With Us co-stars is believed to have cost both sides a combined USD 60 million.
Lively's legal team had previously submitted motions on the matter but sought to expand their arguments with additional evidence. However, the court declined the request and will likely proceed with its ruling without further briefing from either side. Following the settlement, Lively's attorneys described the outcome as a resounding victory, arguing that Baldoni and other defendants now face personal liability for what they called attempts to abuse the legal system to silence and intimidate their client.
Public Support
Amid the legal battle, Lively's husband Ryan Reynolds made headlines on Sunday when he shared a Mother's Day tribute to the love of my life on social media. In the post, he wrote, I appreciate this mother beyond measure and praised her role as a mother to their four children. Lively later reshared the post on her own social media stories, responding with a playful message: I happen to be pretty fond of you too.
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