A federal judge has dismissed most of the claims in a sexual harassment lawsuit that actress Blake Lively filed against her It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni. Judge Lewis Liman threw out 10 of 13 allegations in Lively’s case, including harassment and defamation, according to the BBC.

Legal Grounds for Dismissal

The judge ruled that Lively’s harassment claims under California law did not hold up because the filming—where the alleged misconduct occurred—took place in New Jersey. ‘None of these acts or occurrences provides the ‘substantial connection’ to California needed to sustain Lively’s sexual harassment claims,’ Liman wrote in his 152-page opinion.

Lively was also ineligible to bring certain claims of harassment and retaliation because she was an independent contractor rather than an employee, according to the judge. Additionally, Lively’s defamation claims against Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, were dismissed because the statements in question directly referred to the allegations Baldoni was facing in court.

‘To be sure, much of what Lively complains about is not actionable. The Wayfarer Parties were entitled to engage public relations and crisis management specialists to protect their reputations,’ Liman wrote. ‘However, certain conduct at least arguably crossed the line.’

Remaining Claims Head to Trial

The judge left in place three claims against Baldoni: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation, while these claims will now go to a civil trial in New York on 18 May, according to the BBC.

Lively’s legal team said the sexual harassment claims were dropped not because the defendants did nothing wrong, but because of a technicality. Sigrid McCawley. A member of Lively’s legal team. Told the BBC’s US partner CBS that the case ‘has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy’ her reputation.

Lively plans to testify during the trial and to continue ‘to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation,’ McCawley said — the BBC has contacted Baldoni’s lawyers for comment.

Background of the Legal Battle

The legal battle began in 2024 when Lively sued Baldoni, accusing him of harassment and a smear campaign on the set of their hit movie. He denied the allegations and counter-sued. A judge last year dismissed Baldoni’s $400m counter-lawsuit against Lively, which alleged civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.

The case stems from interactions between Baldoni and Lively on the set of It Ends with Us, an adaptation of a best-selling Colleen Hoover novel. Lively’s legal team has accused Baldoni and his film studio, Wayfarer, of planning to wreck her reputation, including by social media manipulation and using friendly journalists to sow certain narratives.

Lively shared details of the allegations in a New York Times article published before her lawsuit. She filed a lawsuit against Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios in December 2024, alleging he sexually harassed her on set and retaliated against her for bringing those complaints, among other allegations.

In his 152-page opinion. Liman listed a host of reasons for dismissing the many claims against Baldoni. For one, he said harassment claims Lively brought against Baldoni under California law did not hold up because the filming—where the misconduct allegedly occurred—took place in New Jersey.