New York, New York – A judge awarded Blake Lively a portion of the $8 million she sought from Justin Baldoni’s since-dismissed defamation countersuit. But did her side really win this round? Justin’s team believes otherwise.
US District Judge Lewis J. Liman has awarded over $400,000 in attorneys’ fees to the Gossip Girl alum following her lengthy legal war with Baldoni.
Per NBC News, Liman awarded Lively $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206.35 in costs – a fraction of the $8,035,040.88 she demanded for fighting Baldoni and Wayfarer’s defamation suit.
The judge dismissed the countersuit in June.
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In his latest ruling, Liman found that although the rates of Lively’s counsel “were not unreasonable, the number of hours for which Lively seeks reimbursement is unreasonable.”
He also rejected her request for reimbursement for media relations expenses and travel.
Lawyers for the It Ends With Us stars each cited Liman’s ruling as a victory for their respective clients.
Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, noted that the case “was never about money” but rather “accountability.”
