Lawsuit Against Alec Baldwin for ‘Rust’ Shooting Heads Toward Trial

Key Points:

• A civil lawsuit filed by Serge Svetnoy, the chief lighting technician on the "Rust" film set, has been allowed to proceed against Alec Baldwin and the production company, alleging negligence related to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
• The shooting occurred in October 2021 when Baldwin, while positioning a revolver for a scene, discharged a live round that killed Hutchins and injured the director.
• Svetnoy's lawsuit claims Baldwin and the production failed to follow gun safety protocols, including the rule against pointing weapons at others, while Baldwin denies pulling the trigger and asserts he was told the gun was safe.
• Judge Maurice Leiter ruled that the allegations of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress are sufficient for the case to go to trial, potentially leading to another high-profile legal proceeding.
• Baldwin was previously cleared of criminal charges, and the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served prison time for her role in the incident.