It Ends With Disappointment in the Legal System

After months of patiently waiting, hearing nary a whisper, rumor, or titillating scuttlebutt, we are finally getting more news about the Great It Ends With Us legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, and the big reveal…[drumroll] is mainly just disappointment in the legal system.

Lively’s countersuit against Baldoni et al. went to trial in March, alleging that Baldoni sexually harassed her, created a hostile work environment, and orchestrated a smear campaign against her. And now, after all that and $161 million in damages, we’re learning that most of her suit will be dismissed on technical grounds. On Thursday, Judge Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims against Baldoni’s team, ruling that Lively—because she was technically an independent contractor—could not file a harassment claim under federal law.

The trial “isn’t going forward, not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee,” Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively’s legal team, told People. Well, that’s terrifying news for independent contractors everywhere. The judge also tossed other harassment claims because the suit was filed in California, not New Jersey, where the movie was filmed. So, to recap: our legal system sucks. Who’s shocked?

“These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law, and voluminous evidence that was provided,” Baldoni’s team said in a statement. “What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.” OK, but now I’m concerned about a whole other thing. What the hell is this loophole that protects employers against sexual harassment suits?

The rest of the suit, including breach-of-contract and retaliation claims against Baldoni’s company, Wayfarer Studios, will still proceed to trial in May, where Baldoni and Lively each plan to testify. And then, after that, will inevitably come the counter-counter suit, then a counter-counter-counter suit, then a mind-bending quad-counter suit, until these two have flipped the entire system inside out and destroyed it from within. Yay!

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