A federal judge has dismissed Blake Lively’s claims against public relations specialist Jed Wallace, ruling that the court does not have jurisdiction over Wallace or his company, which is based in Texas. The decision was handed down Wednesday by Judge Lewis Liman, who granted Wallace’s motion to be removed from the ongoing civil rights lawsuit filed in New York.
According to court documents, the dismissal was based solely on jurisdictional grounds. “The Wallace Defendant’s motion to dismiss must be granted because the Court lacks personal jurisdiction over them,” the ruling stated, as reported by Page Six.
The judge emphasized that Wallace and his firm, Street Relations, are located in Texas, and that Lively had not provided evidence of any direct actions by Wallace that would subject him to litigation in New York. “The Wallace Defendants are located in Texas, and Lively has not alleged that they are responsible for any act that would subject them to jurisdiction in New York,” the ruling continued.
“The few alleged actions targeting New York were taken by others, and there are no allegations suggesting the Wallace Defendants were aware of them. Therefore, the Wallace Defendants cannot be forced to defend this lawsuit in New York.”
The court’s decision means that if Lively intends to continue pursuing legal action against Wallace, she must either amend her current complaint or refile the case in a jurisdiction that has legal authority over him. Wallace’s attorney, Chip Babcock of Jackson Walker LLP, responded to the outcome with a statement:
“Mr. Wallace and Street Relations very much appreciate the judge’s thoughtful and thorough opinion.” The dismissal comes in response to Lively’s allegations that Wallace had conspired with actor Justin Baldoni’s public relations team to damage her reputation.
According to the original complaint, Wallace allegedly “weaponized a digital army” to “create, seed, and promote” harmful online content targeting Lively — claims Wallace has consistently denied.
While the judge’s ruling represents a legal victory for Wallace, the broader lawsuit is still ongoing. Lively has yet to announce her next legal move, and it remains unclear whether she plans to pursue Wallace in a Texas court or modify her current case to comply with jurisdictional requirements. As the case continues to develop, all eyes will remain on Lively’s legal strategy and how this high-profile conflict between celebrity and publicist unfolds in the courtroom.