In a key development for actress Blake Lively, a Texas federal judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Texas-based publicist Jed Wallace and his firm, Street Relations Inc., after finding the court lacked personal jurisdiction. Haynes Boone led the defense, successfully arguing that the claims had no meaningful connection to Texas and should not proceed in that venue.
The Haynes Boone team was led by Partner Laura Prather, a nationally recognized First Amendment and media lawyer, commended the court’s decision affirming that jurisdiction cannot be manufactured through speculation.
Lively’s spokesperson emphasized the importance of the court’s ruling, explaining this decision means that all the “retaliatory lawsuits filed against Blake Lively by Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and their crisis communications and digital teams have been dismissed.”
Wallace and Street Relations filed the suit earlier this year after being named in Lively’s December 2024 administrative complaint to the California Civil Rights Department, which detailed alleged workplace misconduct involving her “It Ends With Us” co-star and director Justin Baldoni. The complaint also raised concerns about a retaliatory smear campaign involving third parties. Wallace and Street Relations sought more than $7 million in damages, alleging reputational harm.
The court’s ruling agreed with Haynes Boone’s argument that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that Lively’s actions were “directed toward” Texas or that the alleged harm arose from contacts with the state. The judge concluded the plaintiffs had not provided evidence sufficient to establish personal jurisdiction. Lively’s claims are scheduled for trial in March 2026 in New York federal court.
Haynes Boone’s team on this matter also included Counsel Catherine Robb and Associates Michael Lambert and Reid Pillifant. This is the latest in a string of high-profile victories for the team, which in recent months won a major First Amendment case on behalf of a coalition of booksellers to block a Texas book-rating law, and also helped secure the latest release of thousands of records related to the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde.
