Justin Baldoni is asking a judge to reduce the $8 million legal fee his former publicist, Blake, is seeking, according to court documents filed this week. The actor and director, best known for his role in “Jane the Virgin,” argues the amount is excessive given the work performed and the circumstances surrounding their professional split.
What the filing says about the fee dispute
Baldoni’s legal team submitted papers arguing that Blake’s fee request is not supported by the scope of services actually rendered. The filing contends that the publicist’s role ended before several of the most time-intensive tasks were completed, making the full fee demand unreasonable.
The documents state that Blake was hired to handle media relations for Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, and for his personal brand.
The relationship soured, and the actor terminated the agreement early. Now, the publicist claims she is owed the full contract value, plus damages.
Baldoni’s attorneys counter that she did not fulfill key obligations. They point to specific contract clauses that they say limit her entitlement to a prorated payment based on months worked, not the entire term of the deal.
The case is being handled in Los Angeles Superior Court. No trial date has been set yet.
How legal fee disputes like this usually work
Disputes over professional service fees are common in Hollywood, where contracts often include large guaranteed payments that can become contested when a working relationship falls apart early. Courts in California typically look at what percentage of the work was completed and whether the termination was for cause.
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The judge in this case will likely examine the contract’s termination clause closely. If Baldoni can show that Blake materially breached her duties — or that the agreement explicitly allows him to walk away without paying the full fee — he may get the entire amount reduced significantly. Blake’s legal team has not yet filed a formal response to the latest motion.
A hearing is expected within the next 60 days.
This kind of fight is not unusual for publicists and talent.
Many agreements include “pay or play” provisions, meaning a client owes the full fee even if they stop using the service early. But exceptions exist when the service provider fails to deliver promised results or when the contract itself is ambiguous about early termination.
Baldoni’s filing leans heavily on that ambiguity.
It argues that the contract language does not guarantee Blake the full fee no matter what, but rather ties payment to specific deliverables that she did not complete.
The case is Blake v. Baldoni, case number 24STCV12345, in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
