Justin Baldoni must cover Blake Lively's legal costs related to her defamation lawsuit
A judge ruled that Justin Baldoni must pay Blake Lively's legal fees from her defamation lawsuit, rejecting his request for punitive damages.Summary
Blake Lively has secured a legal victory against Justin Baldoni, as a judge ruled that Baldoni must cover her legal costs stemming from her defamation lawsuit. The ruling, issued by Judge Lewis J. Liman, allows Lively to recover part of her legal expenses but denies Baldoni's request for punitive damages or other compensation. The decision is based on a California law protecting victims of sexual harassment from retaliation lawsuits, which requires a defendant to pay a plaintiff's legal fees if a counter-defamation claim is dismissed. While Baldoni could potentially avoid paying fees if he proves Lively acted with malice, he has not provided sufficient evidence to date. The judge also rejected Baldoni's request to triple any compensation, citing that it did not conform to federal procedural rules.
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