Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni each claim latest $400,000 legal ruling as a victory – what's going on?

New York, New York - A judge awarded Blake Lively a portion of the $8 million she sought from Justin Baldoni's since-dismissed defamation countersuit. But did her side really win this round? Justin's team believes otherwise.

Blake Lively (R) scored a small sum of the $8 million she requested amid her It Ends With Us legal war with Justin Baldoni (L).
Blake Lively (R) scored a small sum of the $8 million she requested amid her It Ends With Us legal war with Justin Baldoni (L).  © Collage: IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire &

US District Judge Lewis J. Liman has awarded over $400,000 in attorneys' fees to the Gossip Girl alum following her lengthy legal war with Baldoni.

Per NBC News, Liman awarded Lively $363,245.40 in attorneys' fees and $44,206.35 in costs – a fraction of the $8,035,040.88 she demanded for fighting Baldoni and Wayfarer's defamation suit.

The judge dismissed the countersuit in June.

US Open: Serena and Venus Williams granted doubles wildcard
Serena Williams US Open: Serena and Venus Williams granted doubles wildcard

In his latest ruling, Liman found that although the rates of Lively's counsel "were not unreasonable, the number of hours for which Lively seeks reimbursement is unreasonable."

He also rejected her request for reimbursement for media relations expenses and travel.

Lawyers for the It Ends With Us stars each cited Liman's ruling as a victory for their respective clients.

Lively's attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, noted that the case "was never about money" but rather "accountability."

Lively and Baldoni settled their explosive legal battle in May, which first ignited after she sued her co-star for sexual harassment and an alleged smear campaign against her.

Cover photo: Collage: IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire & Craig Barritt / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

More on Celebrities: