In brief
Actor Alec Baldwin is facing a civil trial tied to the 2021 shooting on the set of 'Rust' in New Mexico. A judge allowed a lawsuit filed by lighting technician Serge Svetnoy to proceed, alleging Baldwin's negligence caused the tragedy that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The incident occurred while Baldwin was rehearsing a scene with a prop gun that discharged live ammunition.
Actor Alec Baldwin could face a civil trial over a 2021 shooting on the set of the film Rust, after a judge ruled a lawsuit could go to trial.
The lawsuit, filed by Serge Svetnoy, the lighting technician on the film, accuses Baldwin of negligence leading up to the shooting.
While rehearsing a scene in New Mexico, Baldwin's prop gun fired a live round, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger, and a criminal case against him was dismissed in 2024.
Svetnoy claims a bullet narrowly missed him and has accused Baldwin and the production company of violating gun safety protocols.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maurice Leiter permitted Svetnoy's claims of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress to proceed but dismissed a claim of assault.
If no settlement is reached, the civil trial is provisionally scheduled for October 12.
The BBC has reached out to Baldwin's defense team for comments.
Baldwin and the film's producers had previously settled a lawsuit with Hutchins' family.
A New Mexico judge had previously dismissed the criminal charges against Baldwin in 2024, citing the withholding of evidence by police that could have been relevant to the case.
During the trial, Baldwin's legal team argued that essential evidence was hidden, including a batch of bullets related to the shooting, although prosecutors contended this ammunition was not tied to the case.
The judge ruled that the evidence in question should have been made available to Baldwin's defense.
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, preventing it from being revived in the future.
Meanwhile, the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2024.
