Everyone has faced a deadline mishap at some point, but not many can say their oversight involved missing a critical deadline in a $400 million lawsuit. Justin Baldoni, known for his role alongside Blake Lively, found himself in such a predicament, proving that sometimes, silence can indeed cost a fortune.

Despite the availability of docket calendaring software, Baldoni lost his lawsuit alleging a defamation campaign by Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and the *New York Times*. The legal battle traces back to accusations by Lively against Baldoni of sexual harassment during the filming of *It Ends With Us*. She asserted that Baldoni then launched a retaliatory campaign to tarnish her reputation. In response, Baldoni filed a defamation lawsuit, which later got consolidated with Lively's harassment suit against him.

The consolidation occurred in January, and by June, Judge Lewis Liman had dismissed Baldoni’s defamation claims. Although Baldoni's legal team was given a chance to amend their claims, they failed to act. The *Times* inquired about the status of these claims in October, leading Judge Liman to set an October 24 deadline for Baldoni's lawyers to explain why he shouldn't close the case. That deadline came and went without a word from Baldoni’s team.

This morning, Judge Liman officially closed the case, marking the end of Baldoni’s claims against Lively. The missed deadline on October 24 was the final straw, and not even the daylight saving time change could be blamed for this oversight.

Baldoni's silence has been conspicuous. When given the opportunity to amend the lawsuit, no action was taken. Legal experts suggest that even a simple communication with the court could have kept his options open. The legal adage "say anything" has never been more relevant, yet Baldoni chose silence, a decision that led to his lawsuit's dismissal.

This case has caught the attention of the legal community, particularly on social media where lawyers sympathize with the nightmare of missing a crucial legal deadline. However, this wasn't just an accidental oversight; it was a series of decisions—or non-decisions—that led to this outcome.

As for Lively, her claims against Baldoni continue, untainted by the procedural missteps that doomed Baldoni's counterclaims. This legal drama not only highlights the complexities of Hollywood disputes but also serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of adhering to court deadlines.