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Justin Baldoni is facing a major setback in his legal war against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.
Judge Lewis J. Liman granted the motion to dismiss Baldoni, 41, and the Wayfarer Parties’ $400 million lawsuit against Lively, 37, and Reynolds, 48, that alleged extortion and defamation on Monday, The Post can confirm.
The judge also dismissed Baldoni’s $250 million defamation lawsuit against the New York Times.
But Judge Liman did reportedly note that Baldoni’s legal team can still amend the claims for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract. The deadline to do so is June 23.
“The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her CRD complaint, which are privileged,” Judge Liman wrote in the opinion and order filing obtained by The Post.
“The Wayfarer Parties have alleged that Reynolds and [publicist Leslie] Sloane made additional statements accusing Baldoni of sexual misconduct and that the Times made additional statements accusing the Wayfarer Parties of engaging in a smear campaign,” Judge Liman continued. “But the Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Reynolds, Sloane or the Times would have seriously doubted these statements were true based on the information available to them, as is required for them to be liable for defamation under applicable law.”
Lively’s lawyers, Esra Hudson & Mike Gottlieb, told The Post in a statement: “Today’s opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane and The New York Times. As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it. We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.”
The Post has reached out to Baldoni’s attorney for comment.
More to come…
English (US)