A federal judge ruled Friday that Blake Lively can recover legal fees from her "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni's production company, but denied her request for additional damages in their ongoing legal dispute.

The ruling addresses claims stemming from defamation allegations between the two actors, who starred together in the romantic drama film. Lively had sought both legal fee recovery and additional damages related to harm allegedly caused by Baldoni's defamation claims against her.

U.S. District Judge granted Lively's request for legal fees under applicable law, but rejected her bid for what sources described as treble and punitive damages. The judge determined that Lively could not seek these enhanced damages under a California law designed to protect individuals who come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct.

Lively's legal team characterized the ruling as a victory, stating that it demonstrated their client "brought her claims in good faith" and that "there was no evidence she acted with malice." They emphasized that Lively qualified as "the prevailing defendant" under the relevant legal statute.

The case appears to involve competing defamation claims between the two actors, though the specific nature of the underlying allegations that sparked the legal battle was not detailed in the court's ruling. The judge's decision represents a mixed outcome, granting Lively some relief while limiting the scope of potential financial recovery.