Blake Lively awarded $400,000 of $8m she claimed for legal fees in Baldoni battle
Actress Blake Lively has been awarded $400,000 in legal fees following a dismissed defamation lawsuit brought by her former co-star Justin Baldoni. The judge significantly reduced her initial $8 million request, citing excessive billing practices and unnecessary legal costs.
Why it matters
This ruling highlights the application of California laws designed to protect sexual harassment accusers from retaliatory defamation suits while setting a precedent for legal fee recovery.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Blake Lively's lawyers say the "case was never about money – it was about accountability"
The article presents both sides of the legal dispute and quotes the judge's reasoning for the reduced award without taking a side.
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