Page Six exclusively reported that Baez sued the actress for defamation earlier this year after she slammed him on Twitter and in comments to the Daily Beast, the New York Times and CNN, including calling him a “truly terrible human and a disgrace of a lawyer.”

A Chicago court has dismissed Baez’s claim, ruling McGowan’s statements were opinion protected by the First Amendment.

McGowan was repped by Baron Harris Healey.

But Baez’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, said he’s contemplating an appeal due to a “factual error” in the judge’s opinion.