Overview
- Lively, in a Thursday court filing, asked the judge to award her attorneys’ fees plus treble and punitive damages tied to Baldoni’s defamation countersuit that was thrown out last June.
- The parties settled the federal case on Monday with appeals waived, canceling a May 18 jury trial, and multiple outlets reported no money changed hands.
- U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman had narrowed the case on April 2 by dismissing most of Lively’s claims, including sexual harassment, while allowing pared‑back retaliation and contract claims to proceed.
- Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit accusing Lively and others of defamation was dismissed in June 2025, and Lively’s new request argues that countersuit retaliated against her for reporting harassment.
- Lively cites a 2023 California law designed to deter such retaliatory lawsuits, so the judge’s ruling on fees and potential enhanced damages could guide how future complainants defend against defamation countersuits.