Blake Lively Lawsuit Dismiss Status: Baldoni’s $400M Countersuit Ends as May 2026 Trial Looms
The legal “war of the roses” between *It Ends With Us* co-stars has reached a point of no return. As of March 17, 2026, the Blake Lively lawsuit dismiss status has been finalized regarding Justin Baldoni’s massive countersuit, while Lively’s original claims remain active and headed for a Manhattan federal courtroom. Following a failed six-hour settlement conference in February 2026, Judge Lewis J. Liman has cleared the calendar for a high-profile trial set to begin on May 18, 2026. This litigation, which has seen a 71-point collapse in public sentiment for both stars, now rests on whether the court will grant a final motion for summary judgment or allow a jury to decide the $160 million dispute.
The Final Dismissal of Baldoni’s $400M Countersuit
The most significant shift in the Blake Lively lawsuit dismiss status occurred in late 2025. Justin Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit—which accused Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds of extortion and a “coordinated smear campaign”—was officially dismissed with prejudice. While Judge Liman originally threw out the claims in June 2025, he provided Baldoni a window to refile amended allegations. Baldoni missed the October 2025 deadline to submit those revisions, leading the judge to enter a final judgment ending his claims permanently.
The court ruled that Lively’s statements regarding on-set misconduct were protected under California’s *Protecting Survivors From Weaponized Defamation Lawsuits Act* (AB 933). This legal protection for “good faith” harassment allegations mirrored the hurdles seen in the Tyler Perry lawsuit TMZ reports, where the defense similarly argued that professional grievances were being reframed as legal misconduct for financial gain.
March 2026 Update: The Push for Summary Judgment
While Baldoni’s countersuit is gone, he has filed a motion for summary judgment to dismiss Lively’s $160 million sexual harassment and retaliation suit. On March 12, 2026, Lively’s legal team filed a scathing response, urging the judge not to dismiss the case. They argued that “evidentiary gaps”—specifically regarding auto-deleted Signal messages from Baldoni’s team—warrant a full trial to determine the truth.
This focus on “deleted digital evidence” is a critical theme in modern litigation, much like the discovery battles in the Audible digital ownership lawsuit. Lively’s attorneys maintain that the unsealed records, which include internal Sony emails calling Lively a “terrorist,” provide enough evidence of a hostile work environment to reach a jury.
Key Dates in the Lively-Baldoni Countdown:
- February 11, 2026: Mandatory settlement conference fails; no deal reached between parties.
- March 13, 2026: Judge Liman denies Lively’s request to sanction Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, over media comments.
- April 2026: Expected ruling on Baldoni’s motion for summary judgment.
- May 18, 2026: Scheduled start date for the jury trial in Manhattan.
Witness Lists and the “Reynolds Factor”
If the Blake Lively lawsuit dismiss status remains “active” through April, the May trial is expected to feature a star-studded witness list. Unsealed documents suggest that Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Swift, and Hugh Jackman could be called to testify regarding the “emotional and professional toll” the alleged smear campaign took on Lively.
The involvement of high-profile third parties in brand-damaging litigation is a recurring trend. For example, the Slipknot domain control lawsuit highlighted how legacy brands must aggressively defend their digital and personal reputations. In Lively’s case, her legal team argues that her positive public sentiment dropped from 81% to 10% specifically due to Baldoni’s alleged “crisis PR” tactics.
Sanctions Denied: A Small Win for Baldoni
On March 13, 2026, Baldoni scored a minor procedural victory. Judge Liman denied Lively’s bid to sanction Baldoni’s lead attorney, Bryan Freedman. Lively’s team argued that Freedman’s public descriptions of her claims as “trivial slights” were intended to poison the jury pool. The judge disagreed, noting the comments were made far enough in advance of the trial that they did not pose a “substantial likelihood of prejudice.” This ruling ensures that both legal teams can continue their aggressive public framing as the trial date nears.
Summary: Heading to a May Showdown
In conclusion, the Blake Lively lawsuit dismiss status is one of “asymmetry.” Baldoni’s attempts to sue Lively for $400 million have been legally extinguished, but his defense against her $160 million claims is more active than ever. Unless a last-minute settlement is reached in April, the *It Ends With Us* stars will face off in court this May. For fans and legal observers, the trial represents more than a celebrity spat—it is a landmark test of how on-set creative friction is categorized under modern harassment and retaliation laws.
