Alec Baldwin at his 2024 involuntary manslaughter trial in Santa Fe
Credit: Ramsay de Give-Pool/Gett
Key Points
Alec Baldwin is facing a civil trial over the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutches on the set of the movie Rust.
A gaffer on the production is alleging Baldwin’s negligence caused him emotional distress.
The actor previously was previously tried for involuntary manslaughter with the charges dismissed.
Alec Baldwin‘s days in court aren’t yet over.
The Oscar-nominated actor previously faced involuntary manslaughter charges stemming from the 2021 on-set shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. And while that case was officially dismissed, Baldwin is now dealing with a civil trial over alleged negligence.
Rust gaffer Serge Svetnoy is arguing that he suffered emotional distress after Baldwin fired a gun that turned out to contain a live round, which resulted in the death of Hutchins.
On Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maurice Leiter allowed Svetnoy’s case to move forward, while also throwing out the allegations of assault, believing that there was no intention of harm from Baldwin.
Baldwin in ‘Rust’
Credit: Rust Movie Productions LLC
“As to intent, the analysis is different on this claim than on the assault claim… A reasonable jury could find that Mr. Baldwin recklessly disregarded the probability that pointing a gun in the direction of someone, with the finger on the trigger, would cause emotional distress,” the judge wrote in his summary.
“We are pleased with the Court’s decision to deny the motions for summary judgment brought by Rust Movie Productions and Alex Baldwin,” Sventoy’s attorney, John Upton, told EW. “These rulings enable our client to present his case at a jury trial, now scheduled for October of this year. He looks forward to finally having his day in court on this long-pending matter.”
EW has reached out to representatives for Baldwin.
In Jan. 2023, Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter, and despite the charges being dropped months later, he was charged again in Jan. 2024. A judge officially dismissed the case with prejudice in July 2024, meaning it can’t be refiled again. Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served 13 months in prison.
“That was unspeakably difficult to deal with,” Baldwin recently said. “Because of the situation, I wound up staying home a lot. I was home with my kids for three-and-a-half years — I hardly worked at all — and that’s just changing now. I’m going to go off and do a bunch of things. But I was home and I got used to it, and I don’t want to leave my house anymore. I don’t want to work anymore. I want to retire and stay home with my kids.”
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Rust was eventually completed and released last year after a settlement was reached between the producers (including Baldwin) and Hutchins’ family, who filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Rust Movie Productions and Baldwin in 2022. Additionally, with the cooperation of Baldwin, director Rory Kennedy recently premiered the documentary The Trial of Alec Baldwin.
A trial date for the latest civil case is currently set for Oct. 12, with the judge reportedly noting, “I’m a little concerned about this case going on and on and on when it should be coming to a resolution.
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