The New York Times has secured a temporary legal victory in the high-profile defamation lawsuit filed by Justin Baldoni, as a U.S. District Judge ruled in favor of the publication, halting evidence collection while the court reviews the case.
Judge Lewis J. Liman determined that the Times has made a strong case for dismissal, stating that the newspaper’s motion is likely to succeed on its merits. This decision blocks Baldoni from demanding documents and evidence from the Times for now, effectively pausing the lawsuit’s progress.
Why Baldoni Sued the New York Times
Baldoni, best known as the director of It Ends With Us, filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against the Times on New Year’s Eve, claiming that the newspaper collaborated with actress Blake Lively on an article that damaged his reputation.
According to Baldoni’s legal team, the Times published misleading and defamatory content, painting him as the villain in an ongoing dispute with Lively over alleged misconduct during the film’s production.
In February, Baldoni escalated the lawsuit to $400 million, adding Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Lively’s publicist as defendants, accusing them of being part of a coordinated smear campaign.
The Judge’s Ruling: A Big Win for the Times
Judge Liman’s ruling means that the Times won’t have to comply with Baldoni’s discovery requests, which would have forced the newspaper to hand over internal documents—until the motion to dismiss is settled.
The judge also rejected Baldoni’s argument that discovery wouldn’t be burdensome, stating that legal proceedings involve more than just the number of documents exchanged.
The Times filed its dismissal motion within 21 days of being served with the lawsuit, signaling their confidence that the case won’t hold up in court.
A spokesperson for the New York Times welcomed the ruling, saying:
“The court has stopped Mr. Baldoni from burdening The Times with discovery requests in a case that should never have been brought. We appreciate the court’s decision today, which recognizes the important First Amendment values at stake here.”
What Happens Next?
With discovery on hold, the focus now shifts to whether the judge will dismiss the case entirely.
Baldoni’s legal team will have to convince the court that the Times knowingly published false and defamatory information, which is a high bar to clear in defamation cases involving public figures.
If the case isn’t dismissed, the lawsuit will move forward with evidence gathering and witness testimonies, potentially exposing Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and key figures at the Times to questioning.
For now, the New York Times has the upper hand, but the legal battle is far from over.
