Overview
- Lively’s lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman on Monday for attorneys’ fees, costs and treble and punitive damages under California Civil Code Section 47.1 based on Justin Baldoni’s dismissed countersuit.
- Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit in January 2025 alleging defamation and extortion, and a judge dismissed that counterclaim last year.
- The parties reached an out‑of‑court settlement in early May that avoided a scheduled trial and waived appeals but did not resolve Lively’s motion for fees and enhanced damages.
- Baldoni’s lawyer told the court the fee bid would be an improper ‘‘end run’’ around the settled jury trial and raised jurisdictional and First Amendment objections.
- Judge Liman heard over an hour of argument on Monday and did not rule; court filings say limited further briefing is expected and a prompt, largely final decision could set an early precedent for the new California law.