The court-ordered settlement negotiations in Blake Lively’s sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against Justin Baldoni have broken down, making a Blake Lively lawsuit trial likely. These talks, aimed at avoiding a courtroom battle, have failed to reach an agreement, according to Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman.
Following the first day of a court-ordered settlement conference at Manhattan’s Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, Freedman indicated the trial scheduled for May 18 remains on track. When asked about the upcoming trial, Freedman stated he was “looking forward to it.”
Lawyers Express Doubt Over Future Settlement Prospects
Despite acknowledging there is “always a chance” for a pre-trial settlement, Freedman expressed skepticism about resuming negotiations and predicted they likely will not continue. Both parties exited a closed-door session with their attorneys and Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave after the day’s proceedings concluded, with no signs of progress toward resolution.
First In-Person Court Encounter Since December 2024 Filing
This marked the first time Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni appeared together in court since Lively filed the lawsuit in December 2024 through her attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, with California’s Civil Rights Department. Lively’s suit is now valued at $550 million and accuses Baldoni and his associates, arising from tensions and abuses during the filming of “It Ends With Us” (IEWU), the film they co-starred in.
Previous Legal Exchanges Highlight Tensions Behind the Scenes
On January 22, both sides presented arguments before Judge Lewis Liman on Baldoni’s motion for summary judgment, with Lively opposing it. This hearing followed the unsealing of numerous internal emails revealing intense disputes. Notably, a Sony executive referred to Lively as “a terrorist” because of her threats to leave the production, and co-star Jenny Slate described Baldoni as
“the biggest clown and the most intense narcissist.”
Additionally, comments from Taylor Swift, a contributor to the IEWU soundtrack and godmother to one of Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ children, stirred controversy when she referred to Baldoni using an expletive. These remarks attracted significant public attention.
Judge’s Decision on Summary Judgment and Next Steps Awaited
Despite the recent court activity and the failed settlement talks, Judge Liman has yet to issue a ruling on the request for summary judgment or determine if Lively’s claims will be narrowed before the trial. The upcoming proceedings remain tense as the legal teams prepare for what could be a lengthy and high-profile jury trial.
Meanwhile, the Wayfarer Studios side has another scheduled court session on Thursday concerning a related matter involving Stephanie Jones, head of Jonesworks PR. It remains unclear whether Lively or Baldoni will attend this separate hearing.
“Blake Lively leaves court in NYC after judge-ordered settlement conference ends (Video: Dominic Patten/Deadline)”—Dominic Patten, Reporter
Blake Lively leaves court in NYC after judge-ordered settlement conference ends (Video: Dominic Patten/Deadline)
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— Deadline (@DEADLINE) February 11, 2026
