NEW YORK — The legal fight between Blake Lively and her "It Ends With Us" co-star and director Justin Baldoni has been narrowed to a single track, after a federal judge formally closed out Baldoni's $400 million countersuit against the actress.

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman had already dismissed Baldoni's countersuit in June but gave him the chance to file an amended complaint. According to NBC News, Baldoni never did. Liman contacted both sides on October 17 to say he intended to enter a final judgment on the dismissed claims; only Lively's team responded, asking that the judgment be entered while her separate request for legal fees remains active. The judge agreed.

One suit down, one to go

The ruling closes out Baldoni's countersuit entirely, but it doesn't end the broader legal saga. Lively's original lawsuit against Baldoni — alleging sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign during and after production of the 2024 film — is still moving forward. Liman trimmed that case back in April, dismissing 10 of Lively's 13 claims, including harassment, defamation and civil conspiracy counts, according to LBC. He allowed three claims — breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding-and-abetting retaliation — to proceed toward a jury.

ONLY LIVELY'S SIDE RESPONDED TO THE JUDGE'S WARNING — ASKING THAT JUDGMENT BE ENTERED WHILE HER BID FOR LEGAL FEES STAYS ALIVE

The dispute began after Lively accused Baldoni and his production team of a hostile on-set environment and, later, of orchestrating a retaliatory press campaign once she raised concerns — allegations Baldoni has denied. He countersued for defamation and extortion, seeking $400 million, before that claim was dismissed and, now, formally closed. ABC 11 reported that Lively spoke publicly about the earlier ruling, framing it as validation that her core claims would get in front of a jury.

What's next

With Baldoni's countersuit erased from the docket, attention shifts to the surviving contract and retaliation claims in Lively's case, along with her outstanding request that Baldoni's side cover her legal fees — a request the court has left open pending further briefing. No firm trial date for the remaining claims had been publicly confirmed as of Sunday. The case has become one of Hollywood's most closely watched legal dramas since it became public in late 2024, drawing scrutiny of crisis-PR tactics in the industry alongside the underlying workplace allegations.