Justin Baldoni is challenging Blake Lively’s request for nearly $8 million in attorney’s fees, asking a judge to deny the motion or substantially reduce the amount. According to court filings reported by multiple outlets, Baldoni’s lawyers argue that Lively’s fee request is excessive and not typical for the case. His team also says the matter involved inefficient or duplicative staffing, including multiple lawyers attending the same hearings and numerous internal conferences and strategy meetings. Baldoni’s filings question whether the legal hours claimed were reasonably expended and whether the case was overstaffed. One report also cites detailed billing figures, including thousands of hours recorded by a large number of timekeepers, which Baldoni’s side says is far higher than amounts approved in comparable high-profile defamation cases. Several sources note that this dispute comes after the parties reach a settlement in May that resolved the core litigation, leaving remaining issues that include legal fees and litigation costs. The judge’s decision on Baldoni’s request to reduce or deny the fee demand is pending.