Judge Sets Final Lively Fees in 2026

A New York federal judge awarded Blake Lively about $407,452 in legal fees and costs for defending against Justin Baldoni’s defamation claim, far short of the roughly $8 million she sought. The award is far short of the roughly $8 million she sought. Judge Lewis J. Liman limited the fee recovery to hours connected to the defamation defense under California’s retaliatory defamation protections, not the entire multi-claim litigation. Baldoni countersued and Wayfarer Studios’ countersuit was largely dismissed; Lively’s sexual harassment claims were rejected. The parties settled the broader dispute in May 2026, with no money changing hands in the settlement itself, and this decision is presented as the final financial resolution from the dispute. Media coverage highlighted the gap between requested and awarded fees and the ongoing debate about fee recovery limits in Hollywood disputes.