The lawsuit against Renée Zellweger has been dismissed with prejudice, permanently removing the Oscar-winning actor from a $10 million injury case involving her boyfriend, Ant Anstead. The rest of the legal dispute, because court cases rarely leave everyone alone at once, remains active.
Why was Zellweger removed from the case?
Court documents obtained by TMZ show that Tracey Belland dropped Zellweger as a defendant. Because the dismissal was entered with prejudice, Belland cannot refile the claim against her later.
Belland had sued both Zellweger and Anstead over an alleged incident in 2024 at a rental home in Laguna Beach, California. She was reportedly a guest at the property when she suffered the injury at the center of the case.
Sources previously told TMZ that Zellweger had no involvement with the rental agreement and was not named on the lease. She also maintained her own residence nearby. In other words, her connection to the property appears to have been Anstead, not paperwork.
What does Tracey Belland allege happened?
Belland claims she stepped onto a thin rug that had been placed over a hole inside the rental home. According to her complaint, the surface caused her to stumble and fall, injuring her knee.
The lawsuit seeks $10 million in damages. Ant Anstead has denied all allegations that he was legally responsible for Belland’s injuries.
Zellweger’s dismissal does not resolve the broader dispute or clear Anstead. The case against him is still moving forward, leaving one defendant out and the central injury claim very much on the court’s schedule.
