Blake Lively demands more than $8M in legal fees from Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Blake Lively is reportedly seeking $8 million in attorneys' fees and litigation costs from Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer after her legal battle with the actor tied to their ‘It Ends With Us’ feud ended.
She submitted the filing on Tuesday, June 30, after a federal judge ruled that she could seek additional relief under California Civil Code Section 47.1.
Blake Lively seeks $8,035,040.88 after 'successful defense of the Wayfarer Action'
As per the new filing, Lively has sought $7,495,526.87 in attorneys' fees along with $539,514.01 in litigation costs and expenses incurred during the “successful defense of the Wayfarer Action.”
Her attorneys have justified the demand, stating their client “has paid, and continues to pay” their fees for their work that was “comprehensive and necessary to achieve the complete win that was secured.”
In addition, the request mentioned that such high-profile cases cost more because of “significant press attention, with thousands of indexed and syndicated media articles.”
Justin Baldoni can respond by July 13 to Blake Lively's demand
The request was filed after a federal judge ruled that the ‘Gossip Girl’ star can ask for additional relief under California Civil Code Section 47.1 earlier in June. Judge Lewis J Liman has also given Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios time till July 13 to respond to the demand.
Following the June 12 verdict, Lively's attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, shared their happiness, calling it “another complete victory and a total vindication” for the 38-year-old actress.
“Today's ruling makes it clear that Ms. Lively brought her claims in good faith, that there was no evidence she acted with malice, and that she is the prevailing defendant under Section 47.1,” the duo added.
Justin Baldoni's lawyer had accused Blake Lively of exploiting the law
But as per Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman, “Lively was only awarded limited attorney fees for a single claim as part of a case that lasted only a matter of months, nothing more.”
“We fought and won against a coordinated effort built on allegations of harassment, retaliation, and a smear campaign that never happened. Ms. Lively demanded over 300 million in fees and damages, had 10 of her 13 claims dismissed, she then chose to settle and received nothing,” he added.
The lawyer even asserted that despite Lively’s “harassment and defamation claims were thrown out by the court,” she “pivoted to exploit a California law that was established to protect real victims in what proved to be a fruitless mission to obtain damages. Once again, she failed.”
