The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni's production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC , seeking to recover costs related to the actor's defamation lawsuit against the newspaper, which has now been dismissed.
According to the lawsuit filed Tuesday, September 30, in New York Supreme Court, the newspaper seeks “fees and expenses incurred in defending the defamation lawsuit brought by Wayfarer and its associates.” Baldoni’s company is the sole defendant in the case.
Citing the law, the newspaper seeks “damages and restitution against plaintiffs who initiate or continue frivolous legal actions to intentionally intimidate, harass, or impede free speech.”
The New York Times is seeking at least $150,000 in damages.
Baldoni's lawyer, Brian Friedman, stated:
“We refuse to bow to powerful forces, even when the odds seem impossible. We stand for a simple purpose: the pursuit of truth in the face of giants. Our refusal to compromise our values ??demonstrates our belief that defending truth and justice matters. If current laws protect traditional media in this way, perhaps it is our duty to push for change.”
The case is a major blow to Baldoni, 41, after a judge on June 9 dismissed both his lawsuit against the newspaper and a $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and journalist Leslie Sloan. The ruling argued that the allegations did not amount to defamation.
In a statement, the Times stressed that “the Federal Court’s decision shows that Wayfarer and its associates initiated and continued the lawsuit against The New York Times without a solid factual or legal basis.”
