Judge awards Blake Lively attorney fees but denies punitive damages in Baldoni defamation countersuit.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman ruled that Blake Lively can recover attorney fees under California Civil Code § 47.1, which protects sexual harassment complainants from retaliatory defamation suits. The judge denied her request for treble and punitive damages, finding they were not available through the procedural vehicle she used. The ruling followed the parties' settlement of their main claims in May.
13
Divergence score
4 outlets covered it, splitting into 4 framing camps across 2 bias groups.
4 camps
2 bias groups
The spectrum · how 4 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
Reason
Washington Times
NY Post
Reuters
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
The split, in one line
Reason and wires focus on the legal mechanics of why punitive damages were denied. Washington Times gives equal weight to both sides claiming victory. NY Post frames it as Lively's another legal win.
How each outlet covered it
Only the right is covering this
One side of the spectrum has stayed silent. That absence is itself a signal.
0
LEFT OUTLETS
0 of 4 outlets covering this story sit on that side of the spectrum.
0LEFT OUTLETS
THE RIGHT
“Judge awards Blake Lively legal fees but no more damages in dispute over 'It Ends With Us' film”WT Washington Times RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Blake Lively can recover legal fees from Justin Baldoni, US judge rules” · Reuters
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 4 outlets put it
5 tracked claims across 4 outlets
Fact ledger
All5Claimed1Corroborated4
1/4
Claimed
Baldoni's attorney Bryan Freedman stated there was no sexual harassment, retaliation, or smear campaign.
Corroborated
Disputed
4 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger