The long running, tabloid-driven and lawsuit filled situation surrounding actor and director Justin Baldoni and actress Blake Lively, originating from alleged behind-the-scenes conflict around their shared film It Ends With Us, builds again as the New York Times has proceeded to sue Wayfarer Studios, the film production company operated by Baldoni for legal costs after they had put to rest a $400 million lawsuit for alleged defamation.

The Times is on record in the Supreme Court filing that the legal opinion of the lower District Court holds that the production company had initiated its lawsuit on grounds that were “without a substantial basis in fact and law.” leading to dismissal. Conversely, Baldoni’s entertainment lawyer has spoken out against the Times’s actions, proclaiming efforts on his clients and him to “ignite that change” against the “current laws protect legacy media.”

Previously, the controversy had escalated first from allegations of accusations of sexual harassment against Baldoni by Lively, which then ballooned into alleged accusations and reporting lawsuits of alleged smear campaigns enacted by Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, against Baldoni, followed by counterclaims alleging that Baldoni instigated an alleged smear attack on Lively’s character. The New York Times had done reporting and investigations into the situation and Lively’s filing, which bled over into the case after Baldoni and Wayfarer initiated a $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times, which was then combined with the one against Lively, Reynolds, and Lively’s publicity for the cumulative $400 million suit.

Baldoni’s claims against the New York Times were then dismissed by a judge, on the grounds that their situation was legally protected.