A Friday night mediation call from Lively’s side triggered the settlement that ended the nearly two-year court battle weeks before trial, Baldoni lawyer Bryan Freedman said.
The deal let both sides drop claims and forgo appeals, while a judge later allowed Lively to recover attorney and litigation fees but rejected her bid for triple damages and punitive damages.
Freedman said Baldoni’s side paid nothing to resolve the remaining claims and pointed to court rulings that, he said, dismissed 10 of 13 surviving claims after two were voluntarily withdrawn.
The dispute grew out of "It Ends With Us" after Lively sued in December 2024 over alleged on-set sexual harassment and retaliation, and Baldoni responded with a $400 million defamation suit that was later dismissed.
In a joint statement, the parties said the film remains a source of pride and voiced hope the settlement would bring closure, including a more respectful online environment.