Overview
- Both sides reached an out-of-court settlement on Monday, May 4, avoiding a jury trial and keeping any financial terms undisclosed.
- Before the deal, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed most of Lively’s claims in April but let a retaliation claim continue, and Baldoni’s defamation countersuit had already been thrown out for missing a filing deadline.
- Court filings show PR discussions about planting negative narratives about Lively, including texts about “burying” her and proposals for untraceable social media takedowns.
- Lively’s legal team signaled plans to pursue attorneys’ fees and enhanced damages in California tied to alleged retaliatory defamation under a state statute.
- Industry insiders say both now face a reputational freeze, with many predicting Lively may rebound sooner than Baldoni despite the film’s $351 million global gross on a $25 million budget.