Civil case against Alec Baldwin, ‘Rust’ movie producers advances toward a trial

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Almost two years after Alec Baldwin was found not criminally responsible in the shooting on the set of the movie “Rust,” the civil lawsuit claiming negligence is moving closer to a trial, which is expected this fall.

A Los Angeles judge ruled on Friday against attempts by the producers of the film “Rust,” actor and producer Alec Baldwin, and his company to have the lawsuit against them dismissed.

During a hearing, Superior Court Judge Maurice Leiter set an Oct. 12 trial date.

Serge Svetnoy, the chief lighting technician on the film, filed a lawsuit over four years ago. He was a close friend of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer who was fatally shot on set in New Mexico. Svetnoy held Hutchins as she died after a bullet was fired from Alec Baldwin’s gun.

Following the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins in October 2021, Sergiy Svetnoy was the first member of the film crew to sue the producers, claiming their carelessness led to the incident. He states he’s experienced ongoing trauma as a result and also alleges the producers intentionally caused him emotional distress.

Prosecutors dismissed the criminal case against Baldwin, who has consistently stated he wasn’t at fault in the death of Halyna Hutchins.

Following the hearing, attorneys Gary Dordick and John Upton, representing Svetnoy, stated they were happy with the court’s decision to reject the attempts by Rust Movie Productions and Alec Baldwin to dismiss the case. They said Svetnoy is eager to present his case in court after a long delay.

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A director who collaborated with Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer who died in a shooting on the set of an Alec Baldwin film, said she was on track to become a well-known figure in her field.

The judge rejected the defendants’ attempt to have the claims of negligence, emotional distress, and punitive damages thrown out of court. However, one charge against Baldwin – alleging assault – was dismissed.

According to his spokesperson, Svetnoy said the bullet flew very close to his head, but he wasn’t hit.

Attorneys representing Baldwin and the producers were not immediately available for comment.

Svetnoy and Hutchins were close friends and collaborators, having known each other for over five years and worked on nine movies together. Both originally came from Ukraine and often celebrated holidays together with their families.

Hollywood Inc.

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The day Alec Baldwin shot Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza

Conversations with several people who worked on the film “Rust” reveal a series of poor choices that led to a dangerous and disorganized environment, ultimately resulting in a live round being loaded into a prop firearm.

On October 21, 2021, he was assisting with filming preparations inside a wooden church at Bonanza Creek Ranch. Hutchins was talking with Baldwin about how to position the camera to get a close-up shot of the revolver Baldwin was holding.

Let me tell you, the production was thrown into total disarray today. The camera crew, members of the Hutchins union, simply walked off the job. Apparently, they’re protesting a lack of affordable housing nearby, and they also have serious concerns about past safety issues with the guns used on set. It was a complete shutdown, and honestly, a pretty understandable walk-off given the circumstances.

According to crew members, the producers decided to continue filming despite an ongoing labor dispute, rather than delaying production to resolve it.

In March 2024, New Mexico prosecutors successfully prosecuted Hannah Gutierrez, the armorer on the film set. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and spent over a year in prison before being released last year.

Baldwin faced a similar charge, but the case against him unraveled spectacularly.

Wow, day two of Alec Baldwin’s July 2024 trial was a total game-changer. His lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, revealed that the prosecution and even some sheriff’s deputies had been holding back evidence that could have seriously helped his case. The judge was absolutely livid about it, and ultimately, he walked free! It was a stunning turn of events, and you could feel the shock in the courtroom.

Hollywood Inc.

The judge dropped the manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin because of concerns that evidence may have been hidden. The decision came after the judge learned about what appeared to be an attempt to cover up potential evidence.

Variety first reported on Friday’s court action.

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2026-04-18 03:38