Blake Lively Invokes #MeToo Law in Bid to Throw Out Justin Baldoni’s Defamation Suit
variety.comGene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Blake Lively filed a motion Thursday to throw out Justin Baldoni‘s $400 million defamation suit against her, arguing that the suit is retaliation for lodging a sexual harassment claim.
In the motion, Lively’s attorneys invoked a California law that protects sexual harassment accusers. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the law in 2023 in response to a wave of defamation suits against women who spoke up during the #MeToo movement.
Lively’s attorneys say the law entitles her to claim attorneys’ fees and damages from Baldoni once his suit is thrown out. “In other words, in an epic self-own, the Wayfarer Parties have created more liability for themselves by their malicious efforts to sue Ms.
Lively ‘into oblivion,'” the motion states. Lively has sued Baldoni, his publicists, and the producers behind “It Ends With Us,” alleging that they launched a smear campaign against her after she complained about sexual harassment on set.
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