The legal drama surrounding the highly anticipated civil trial between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has taken an unexpected turn. While the trial was originally scheduled to commence on March 9, 2026, Judge Lewis J. Liman, during a hearing held on December 9, ruled that it will now commence on May 18, 2026. The judge explained that with two other criminal trials also on his docket, and despite the importance of this case, criminal trials take precedence. The next scheduled hearing for the case is set for January 22, where oral arguments on summary judgment will take place.
Following the change in date, Wayfarer Studios, of which Baldoni is a co-founder, shared a statement with E! News, stating that "whether a trial ultimately occurs and what claims proceed depend entirely on the outcome of summary judgment following the judge's careful review of all evidence."
The upcoming civil trial is centered around Lively's December 2024 lawsuit against Baldoni and others from Wayfarer Studios, in which she accused him of sexually harassing her while filming "It Ends With Us" and hiring a crisis PR expert to tarnish her reputation. Both allegations have been denied by Baldoni.
In her suit, Lively's team claims she has lost a staggering $161 million in damages due to the alleged smear campaign. According to an amended disclosure filed by Lively's team on November 5 and obtained by E! News, Lively's team claims she has missed out on $18.3 million in past wages and $37.9 million in future wages through lost appearances, acting opportunities, speaking engagements, and endorsement opportunities. Additionally, the document alleges that her company Blake Brown Beauty lost a total of $49 million in profits, while her other company Betty Booze has missed out on approximately $22 million.
Finally, the filing also claims that "defamatory statements" have caused Lively to suffer a loss of $34 million in reputational harm. Baldoni's $400 million countersuit, filed against Lively and The New York Times (for an article published in December 2024), was dismissed by Judge Liman in June. However, while Baldoni missed the deadline to file an amended complaint, he and his co-plaintiffs still retain the right to appeal the dismissal once the court rules on Lively's request to recoup her legal fees.
The lawsuit against Baldoni from The New York Times—seeking compensatory and punitive damages for costs related to his countersuit—still stands. The "Jane the Virgin" alum's team has confirmed his intention to fight the case with determination. "Win, lose or draw, we refuse to cave to power brokers even in the face of seemingly impossible odds," his lawyer Bryan Freedman said in a statement to People in October. "We continue to stand tall for a reason: the pursuit of truth, in the face of giants."
