Hollywood actress Blake Lively has been awarded roughly $400,000 in attorneys’ fees and court costs following a legal dispute with herIt Ends With Usco-star, Justin Baldoni. This award concludes an 18-month legal battle that the pair settled in May, successfully avoiding a federal trial that had been scheduled for later that month, according toVariety.
Court Ruling and Fee Breakdown
Judge Lewis Liman awarded the actress $363,000 in attorneys’ fees and an additional $44,000 in court costs. The ruling addresses Lively’s motion to recover expenses incurred while defending herself against a defamation lawsuit filed by Baldoni. In his decision, Judge Liman determined that Lively was entitled only to “reasonable” fees associated with that specific defense.
Judicial Findings on Billing
- Judge Liman ruled that while the attorneys’ billing rates were “not unreasonable” given the high stakes and complexity of the case, he concluded that “(t)he number of hours for which Lively seeks reimbursement is unreasonable.”
- Lively had originally petitioned for $7.5 million in attorneys’ fees and $540,000 in court costs. The final award is roughly double the amount granted to theNew York Timesfor defending itself against a similar defamation claim by Baldoni.
Legal Perspectives
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, highlighted that Lively received only 5% of her requested amount. “The ruling is a significant victory for my clients and sends a clear message that, no matter how powerful you may be, the courtroom is not a place to take advantage of the law for your own personal gain,” Freedman stated. Conversely, Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, argued that the outcome demonstrates “that there are real consequences of bringing retaliatory lawsuits.” The report also notes that baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, noted that Lively got only 5% of what she asked for.
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