Blake Lively gets the upper hand over Justin Baldoni after the latter’s $400 million defamation countersuit was thrown out in court. Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni’s entire suit, including his allegations of extortion. However, the Jane the Virgin actor can amend his suit and refile a couple of other allegations, including Lively’s alleged interference with contracts.
After the decision came in favor of the Gossip Girl actress, some fans are upset. There were suspicions brought online when some internet users dug deep into Judge Liman’s personal life. It so happens that Liman does have a connection to Hollywood.
Who is Judge Lewis J. Liman, and what’s his connection to Hollywood?
Judge Lewis J. Liman currently serves as the judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. President Donald Trump approved his renomination to the position during his previous tenure. Liman attended the London School of Economics, followed by Yale Law School.
His father, Arthur Liman, was a lawyer and a partner at the reputable New York law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. While Judge Liman followed in the footsteps of his father, his brother Doug Liman chose a different career path. We know Douglas Liman as the director of films like The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Edge of Tomorrow.
When Judge Liman ruled in favor of Blake Lively by dismissing Justin Baldoni‘s defamation lawsuit, fans immediately began blaming his Hollywood connection. Director Liman and Lively have worked together only once, but it wasn’t a feature film project or a TV show. In 2008, Lively and her then-boyfriend Penn Badgley appeared in a pro-Obama commercial, directed by Liman for MoveOn.org’s Youth Vote program.
Fans have been making wild accusations on X based on this connection. While some suggested that Lively and Ryan Reynolds might have influenced the system, others pointed out that Lively can’t go around asking favors based on a 10-second commercial she did 17 years ago. Some of the fan reactions read:
This was the very first thing I thought…the power duo had and someone inside.
— Ms Construed aka Carolyn (@caste315) June 10, 2025
Judge should’ve excused himself.
— Bubba Ho-tep (@RFab89639649) June 9, 2025
I don’t understand how he could preside then. That’s a conflict of interest I’d assume.
— Mistie (@Mistie_Mo) June 9, 2025
What’s your point? Some guy she worked with years ago went to his judge brother and asked him to do something that could cost him his seat? Isn’t it much more likely that the suit had no merit?
— Chicken Little (@HereForPatriots) June 9, 2025
because his brother directed a show with thousands of actors 18 years ago, his years of being a lawyer and judge becomes invalid? yall are delusional and ridiculous
— mo (@filled_popcorn) June 10, 2025
However, there appears to be no legal grounds for a conflict of interest argument here. While fans keep debating on social media, it is not likely that Bryan Freedman would bring this matter to court.
Why did Judge Liman dismiss Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit?
Justin Baldoni’s countersuit to Lively’s lawsuit didn’t hold up in the New York District Court. Judge Lewis Liman found that Baldoni’s lawsuit centered on the claims that Lively threatened not to promote his film, and that she promoted a false narrative against him.
The judge shared that Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Studios, “have not adequately alleged that Lively’s threats were wrongful extortion rather than legally permissible hard bargaining or renegotiation of working conditions” (via BBC). On the defamation front, the judge shared that Baldoni couldn’t prove defamation. He shared:
Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her lawsuit.
The judge said that Lively’s statements in the lawsuit are privileged and could not be subjected to a lawsuit. The judge also dismissed Baldoni’s case against The New York Times article. However, Baldoni could still amend his lawsuit and file a new one against Lively for her alleged interference with contracts on It Ends With Us.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
