.jpeg "Justin Baldoni Seeks to Block Blake Lively’s $8 Million Attorney Fee Request")
In a court filing submitted on July 13, Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios argued that Lively’s request is excessive, citing high hourly rates, overstaffing, and more than 7,070 billable hours logged by 82 timekeepers. The filing claims the legal work included unnecessary duplication, multiple attorneys attending the same hearings, and excessive internal conferences.
Baldoni’s legal team compared Lively’s request with The New York Times’ attorney fee application in a related defamation case. After successfully defeating Baldoni’s $250 million lawsuit, the newspaper sought about $181,600 in legal fees, which Baldoni argues is a more appropriate benchmark.
Lively is seeking $7.5 million in attorney fees and about $539,500 in litigation costs under California Civil Code Section 47.1. Her attorneys say the expenses were necessary to defend against Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit, which was dismissed by Judge Lewis Liman in June 2025.
According to Lively’s legal team, the case required extensive work due to its high profile, involving thousands of documents, significant discovery, and complex motion practice. They also noted that Lively has paid, and continues to pay, the legal bills and intends to seek additional fees related to litigating the fee request.
The broader legal dispute began after the release of It Ends With Us. Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024, and Baldoni later filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The parties settled the broader litigation in May, leaving the court to determine whether Baldoni must reimburse Lively’s legal fees.
Judge Liman will now decide whether to award Lively the requested fees and costs, reduce the amount, or deny the request altogether.
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Celebrity
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