United Kingdom, March 20 -- Blake Lively has asked a court to dismiss Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit.

The 37-year-old actress' legal team have argued that Baldoni's lawsuit is "baseless", accusing the 'It Ends with Us' director of trying to punish Lively for speaking out about workplace retaliation and sexual harassment.

Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, the actress' attorneys, said in a statement: "This lawsuit is a profound abuse of the legal process that has no place in federal court.

"California law now expressly prohibits suing victims who speak out against sexual harassment or retaliation, whether in a lawsuit or in the press.

"This meritless and retaliatory lawsuit faces three insurmountable legal obstacles, including the lit...