Alec Baldwin to face civil trial over Rust film set shooting

Alec Baldwin, a prominent actor, may be required to attend a civil trial following a 2021 incident on the set of the movie *Rust*. A New Mexico judge permitted the lawsuit to proceed after ruling it met the criteria for trial. The case, brought by Serge Svetnoy—a lighting technician involved in the production—claims Baldwin was negligent in handling the situation prior to the shooting.

In October 2021, during a rehearsal on the New Mexico set, Baldwin’s prop gun discharged a live round, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the injury of director Joel Souza. Baldwin has consistently denied pulling the trigger, a stance that contributed to the dismissal of a criminal case against him in 2024. The judge cited the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors as the key factor in the decision.

The lawsuit alleges that Baldwin and the production team failed to follow gun safety procedures. Svetnoy asserts a bullet narrowly missed him and accuses the parties of negligence. A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Maurice Leiter, approved claims of negligence and emotional distress but rejected the assault charge, as detailed in documents released on Friday.

With no settlement reached, a civil trial is scheduled for 12 October. The BBC has reached out to Baldwin’s legal representatives for further comments. Notably, Baldwin and the film’s producers had already settled a separate lawsuit with Hutchins’ family earlier this year.

“Prosecutors argued the ammunition was not connected to the case and did not match bullets found on the Rust set. The judge ruled, however, that they should have been shared with Baldwin’s defence team regardless.”

The criminal case against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning no appeals can reinstate it. Meanwhile, the film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and received an 18-month prison sentence in 2024.