Justin Baldoni is asking a federal judge to deny or significantly reduce Blake Lively’s request for more than $8 million in attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, arguing that the amount is unreasonable.

The latest filing marks another chapter in the legal battle between the It Ends With Us co-stars, with Baldoni’s legal team claiming Lively’s request far exceeds what similar cases have received.

Baldoni Calls the Request Excessive

In court documents filed on July 13, Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios argued that Lively’s request is “anything but a typical fee motion.”

Her legal team is seeking $7.49 million in attorneys’ fees and an additional $539,514 in litigation costs after successfully defeating Baldoni’s defamation-related counterclaims.

Baldoni’s attorneys contend the request is inflated, pointing to a separate legal battle involving The New York Times, which sought about $181,000 in legal fees after obtaining dismissal of a similar defamation claim.

Claims the Case Was Overstaffed

The filing also argues that Lively’s legal team billed an excessive number of hours.

According to Baldoni’s attorneys, 82 timekeepers logged more than 7,000 billable hours, with multiple lawyers attending the same hearings and extensive time spent on internal meetings, strategy sessions and research.

They argue those figures are far higher than courts have approved in comparable high-profile defamation cases.

The dispute began after the production and promotion of It Ends With Us.

Lively sued Baldoni in late 2024, alleging misconduct connected to the film. Baldoni later filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, but the court dismissed those claims in June 2025.

Although the broader litigation was settled in May, the court must still determine whether Baldoni is responsible for paying Lively’s legal fees and, if so, how much.

Lively Says the Costs Were Necessary

Lively’s attorneys argue the case required extensive legal work because of its complexity and public attention.

They say the litigation involved thousands of documents, significant discovery and numerous court filings, making the legal expenses both necessary and reasonable.

The judge has not yet ruled on whether Lively will receive the requested fees or whether the amount will be reduced.